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. 31, 2022		$ 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 income (loss) 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		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 income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(8,532)				(8,812)
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans						(6,779)
Repurchase of common stock						0
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		802	313,647	2,492,157	(55,061)	(530,304)	29,988
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 30, 2023	2,358,716	1,604	312,171	2,594,300	(47,221)	(523,409)	21,271
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans			433
Stock-based compensation expense			19,956
Issuance of restricted stock			(8,992)			8,992
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	467,227			467,227
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(68,605)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(6,741)				(6,012)
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans						(23,381)
Repurchase of common stock						(48,681)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9,712)						9,712
Foreign currency translation	(5,909)						(729)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 28, 2024	2,708,636	1,604	323,568	2,992,922	(53,233)	(586,479)	30,254
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 29, 2024		1,604	325,763	2,847,420	(60,162)	(568,522)	26,755
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans			90
Stock-based compensation expense			6,480
Issuance of restricted stock			(8,765)			8,765
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	168,699			168,699
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(23,197)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	7,344				6,929
Acquisition of shares under incentive stock option plans						(21,035)
Repurchase of common stock						(5,687)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,084)						3,084
Foreign currency translation	6,117						415
Balance at end of period at Sep. 28, 2024	$ 2,708,636	$ 1,604	$ 323,568	$ 2,992,922	$ (53,233)	$ (586,479)	$ 30,254