| 
 (In thousands) 
 | 
 2011 
 | 
 2010 
 | 
 2009 
 | 
|||||||||
| 
 Consolidated net income 
 | 
 $ 
 | 
 87,086 
 | 
 $ 
 | 
 87,535 
 | 
 $ 
 | 
 5,337 
 | 
||||||
| 
 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 
 | 
||||||||||||
| 
 Foreign currency translation 
 | 
 232 
 | 
 (215 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 13,306 
 | 
||||||||
| 
 Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities, net of tax of $559, $(191), and $(1,978) 
 | 
 (988 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 376 
 | 
 6,049 
 | 
||||||||
| 
 Net actuarial loss on pension and postretirement obligations, net of tax of $4,786, $1,631, and $2,138 
 | 
 (10,378 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 (402 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 (5,655 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
||||||
| 
 Other, net 
 | 
 (81 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 61 
 | 
 289 
 | 
||||||||
| 
 Total other comprehensive (loss) income 
 | 
 (11,215 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 (180 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 13,989 
 | 
|||||||
| 
 Consolidated comprehensive income 
 | 
 75,871 
 | 
 87,355 
 | 
 19,326 
 | 
|||||||||
| 
 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest 
 | 
 (1,913 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 (2,127 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
 (2,642 
 | 
 ) 
 | 
||||||
| 
 Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc. 
 | 
 $ 
 | 
 73,958 
 | 
 $ 
 | 
 85,228 
 | 
 $ 
 | 
 16,684 
 | 
||||||