CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,055,622	$ 2,100,002	$ 2,364,227
Cost of goods sold	1,723,499	1,809,702	2,043,719
Depreciation and amortization	35,133	34,608	33,735
Selling, general, and administrative expense	137,499	130,358	131,740
Gain on sale of assets	0	(15,376)	(6,259)
Impairment charges	6,778	0	0
Severance	0	3,442	7,296
Operating income	152,713	137,268	153,996
Interest expense	(7,387)	(7,667)	(5,740)
Other income (expense), net	704	2,188	(243)
Income before income taxes	146,030	131,789	148,013
Income tax expense	(48,137)	(43,382)	(45,479)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	1,861	0	0
Consolidated net income	99,754	88,407	102,534
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(27)	(543)	(974)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 99,727	$ 87,864	$ 101,560
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,572	56,316	56,042
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	597	652	726
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	57,169	56,968	56,768
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.76	$ 1.56	$ 1.81
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.74	1.54	1.79
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.375	$ 0.300	$ 0.300