CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 25, 2021		$ 802	$ 286,208	$ 1,458,489	$ (53,347)	$ (470,034)	$ 34,845
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			293
Stock-based compensation expense			5,171
Issuance of restricted stock			(444)			444
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 364,868			364,868
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(28,546)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(21,172)				(19,583)
(Acquisition) issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans						(389)
Repurchase of common stock						(33,469)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,904)						1,904
Foreign currency translation	(15,907)						(1,589)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 25, 2022		802	291,228	1,794,811	(72,930)	(503,448)	35,160
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 26, 2022		802	288,802	1,602,496	(47,442)	(474,258)	35,744
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			272
Stock-based compensation expense			2,598
Issuance of restricted stock			(444)			444
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	206,552			206,552
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(14,237)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(27,044)				(25,488)
(Acquisition) issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans						(137)
Repurchase of common stock						(29,497)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(972)						972
Foreign currency translation	(17,120)						(1,556)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 25, 2022		802	291,228	1,794,811	(72,930)	(503,448)	35,160
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2022	1,813,964	802	297,270	2,059,796	(64,175)	(502,779)	23,050
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			434
Stock-based compensation expense			12,459
Issuance of restricted stock			(458)			458
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	350,950			350,950
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(34,128)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	17,890				17,926
(Acquisition) issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans						(3,022)
Repurchase of common stock						(19,303)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,694)						3,694
Foreign currency translation	17,976						(36)
Balance at end of period at Jul. 01, 2023	2,142,938	802	309,705	2,376,618	(46,249)	(524,646)	26,708
Balance at beginning of period at Apr. 01, 2023		802	303,133	2,215,939	(51,951)	(505,616)	25,162
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			208
Stock-based compensation expense			6,822
Issuance of restricted stock			(458)			458
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	177,711			177,711
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(17,032)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	5,408				5,702
(Acquisition) issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans						(185)
Repurchase of common stock						(19,303)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,840)						1,840
Foreign currency translation	7,725						(294)
Balance at end of period at Jul. 01, 2023	$ 2,142,938	$ 802	$ 309,705	$ 2,376,618	$ (46,249)	$ (524,646)	$ 26,708