Stockholders' Equity - Schedule of Change in Stockholder's Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 01, 2023	Jul. 02, 2022
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 19,929,870	$ 16,143,120	$ 19,569,906	$ 14,603,794
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	1,587,075	2,727,237	2,818,704	4,954,352
Other comprehensive income (loss)	36,386	(26,306)	8,545	44,472
Stock options exercised		2,233	$ 7,123	18,819
Stock options exercised (in shares)			131
Stock option expense	3,447	3,964	$ 3,922	4,422
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	16,149	(3,546)	59,969	39,552
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,501	1,200	3,265	2,600
Treasury stock value acquired	(454,814)	(802,569)	(884,627)	(1,707,893)
Cash dividends declared	(127,725)	(132,127)	(257,108)	(266,573)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(50,961)	(56,977)	(388,771)	(268,535)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI		(3,421)		427,798
BALANCES, end of period	$ 20,940,928	17,852,808	$ 20,940,928	17,852,808
BALANCES, shares at end of period	380,154		380,154
Common Stock [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period	380,154	380,154	380,154	380,154
BALANCES, end of period	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061
BALANCES, shares at end of period	380,154	380,154	380,154	380,154
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 2,168,770	$ 2,163,129	$ 2,143,520	$ 2,140,608
Stock options exercised		(802)	(1,749)	(1,309)
Stock option expense	3,447	3,964	3,922	4,422
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	(24,025)	(52,313)	735	(31,143)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,501	1,200	3,265	2,600
BALANCES, end of period	2,149,693	2,115,178	2,149,693	2,115,178
Retained Earnings [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	25,762,032	19,635,277	24,754,873	17,674,100
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	1,461,354	2,561,233	2,597,896	4,656,856
Cash dividends declared	(127,725)	(132,127)	(257,108)	(266,573)
BALANCES, end of period	27,095,661	22,064,383	27,095,661	22,064,383
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	(165,358)	(44,504)	(137,517)	(115,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	36,386	(26,306)	8,545	44,472
BALANCES, end of period	(128,972)	(70,810)	(128,972)	(70,810)
Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ (8,900,124)	$ (6,701,401)	$ (8,498,243)	$ (5,835,098)
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period	128,930	114,092	126,661	107,742
Stock options exercised		$ 3,035		$ 20,128
Stock options exercised (in shares)		(49)	(131)	(359)
Stock option expense			$ 8,872
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	$ 40,174	$ 48,767	$ 59,234	$ 70,695
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares	(566)	(775)	(889)	(1,163)
Treasury stock value acquired	$ (454,814)	$ (802,569)	$ (884,627)	$ (1,707,893)
Treasury stock acquired (in shares)	3,067	5,100	5,790	12,148
BALANCES, end of period	$ (9,314,764)	$ (7,452,168)	$ (9,314,764)	$ (7,452,168)
BALANCES, shares at end of period	131,431	118,368	131,431	118,368
Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 19,017,381	$ 15,204,562	$ 18,414,694	$ 14,016,389
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	1,461,354	2,561,233	2,597,896	4,656,856
Other comprehensive income (loss)	36,386	(26,306)	8,545	44,472
Stock options exercised		2,233	7,123	18,819
Stock option expense	3,447	3,964	3,922	4,422
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	16,149	(3,546)	59,969	39,552
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,501	1,200	3,265	2,600
Treasury stock value acquired	(454,814)	(802,569)	(884,627)	(1,707,893)
Cash dividends declared	(127,725)	(132,127)	(257,108)	(266,573)
BALANCES, end of period	19,953,679	16,808,644	19,953,679	16,808,644
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	912,489	938,558	1,155,212	587,405
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	125,721	166,004	220,808	297,496
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(50,961)	(56,977)	(388,771)	(268,535)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI		(3,421)		427,798
BALANCES, end of period	$ 987,249	$ 1,044,164	$ 987,249	$ 1,044,164