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 of shares under incentive stock option plans			853
Stock-based compensation expense			12,254
Issuance of restricted stock			(4,913)			4,913
Purchase of Mueller Middle East							(5,605)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 519,410			519,410
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(42,762)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(49,113)				(46,105)
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans						(2,472)
Repurchase of common stock						(38,054)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,175)						3,175
Foreign currency translation	(44,086)						(3,008)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 24, 2022		802	294,402	1,935,137	(99,452)	(505,647)	29,407
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 25, 2022		802	291,228	1,794,811	(72,930)	(503,448)	35,160
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans			560
Stock-based compensation expense			7,083
Issuance of restricted stock			(4,469)			4,469
Purchase of Mueller Middle East							(5,605)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	154,542			154,542
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(14,216)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(27,941)				(26,522)
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans						(2,083)
Repurchase of common stock						(4,585)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,271)						1,271
Foreign currency translation	(28,179)						(1,419)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 24, 2022		802	294,402	1,935,137	(99,452)	(505,647)	29,407
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 of shares under incentive stock option plans			688
Stock-based compensation expense			17,268
Issuance of restricted stock			(1,579)			1,579
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	483,659			483,659
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(51,298)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	9,358				9,114
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans						(9,801)
Repurchase of common stock						(19,303)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,694)						6,694
Foreign currency translation	8,898						244
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2023	2,251,229	802	313,647	2,492,157	(55,061)	(530,304)	29,988
Balance at beginning of period at Jul. 01, 2023		802	309,705	2,376,618	(46,249)	(524,646)	26,708
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans			254
Stock-based compensation expense			4,809
Issuance of restricted stock			(1,121)			1,121
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	132,709			132,709
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(17,170)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(8,532)				(8,812)
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans						(6,779)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,000)						3,000
Foreign currency translation	(9,078)						280
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 2,251,229	$ 802	$ 313,647	$ 2,492,157	$ (55,061)	$ (530,304)	$ 29,988