Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 9,523,256	$ 11,794,474	$ 18,233,236	$ 22,287,756
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of products sold	7,021,582	7,690,211	13,733,360	14,725,354
Marketing, administrative and other expenses	453,388	563,211	843,283	1,087,795
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(6,094)	(7,113)	(4,754)	(14,808)
Interest expense, net	4,598	57,763	14,781	100,898
Costs, expenses and other, total	7,473,474	8,304,072	14,586,670	15,899,239
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	2,049,782	3,490,402	3,646,566	6,388,517
Provision for income taxes	462,707	763,165	827,862	1,434,165
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	1,587,075	2,727,237	2,818,704	4,954,352
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	125,721	166,004	220,808	297,496
Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders	$ 1,461,354	$ 2,561,233	$ 2,597,896	$ 4,656,856
Net earnings per share:
Basic	$ 5.82	$ 9.69	$ 10.28	$ 17.34
Diluted	$ 5.81	$ 9.67	$ 10.26	$ 17.3
Average shares outstanding:
Basic	250,144	263,221	251,876	267,416
Diluted	250,524	263,719	252,334	268,066