Stockholders' Equity - Schedule of Change in Stockholder's Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Oct. 01, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Oct. 01, 2022
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 20,940,928	$ 17,852,808	$ 19,569,906	$ 14,603,794
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	1,221,255	1,799,043	4,039,959	6,753,395
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(19,855)	(32,743)	(11,310)	11,729
Stock options exercised	3,227	2,784	$ 10,350	21,604
Stock options exercised (in shares)			181
Stock option expense	392	475	$ 4,314	4,897
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	16,353	15,009	76,322	54,560
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,599	1,100	4,864	3,700
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(504,242)	(652,078)	(1,388,869)	(2,359,971)
Cash dividends declared	(126,942)	(129,482)	(384,050)	(396,055)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(23,633)	(32,237)	(412,404)	(300,772)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI				427,798
BALANCES, end of period	21,509,082	18,824,679	21,509,082	18,824,679
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	$ 2,149,693	$ 2,115,178	$ 2,143,520	$ 2,140,608
Stock options exercised	(386)	(1,181)	(2,135)	(2,489)
Stock option expense	392	475	4,314	4,897
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	14,337	12,949	15,072	(18,195)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,599	1,100	4,864	3,700
BALANCES, end of period	2,165,635	2,128,521	2,165,635	2,128,521
Retained Earnings [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	27,095,661	22,064,383	24,754,873	17,674,100
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	1,141,506	1,694,748	3,739,402	6,351,604
Cash dividends declared	(126,942)	(129,482)	(384,050)	(396,055)
BALANCES, end of period	28,110,225	23,629,649	28,110,225	23,629,649
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	(128,972)	(70,810)	(137,517)	(115,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(19,855)	(32,743)	(11,310)	11,729
BALANCES, end of period	(148,827)	(103,553)	(148,827)	(103,553)
Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ (9,314,764)	$ (7,452,168)	$ (8,498,243)	$ (5,835,098)
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period	131,431	118,368	126,661	107,742
Stock options exercised	$ 3,613	$ 3,965	$ 12,485	$ 24,093
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(50)	(62)	(181)	(421)
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	$ 2,016	$ 2,060	$ 61,250	$ 72,755
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares	(28)	(31)	(917)	(1,194)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	$ (504,242)	$ (652,078)	$ (1,388,869)	$ (2,359,971)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax (in shares)	2,962	5,334	8,752	17,482
BALANCES, end of period	$ (9,813,377)	$ (8,098,221)	$ (9,813,377)	$ (8,098,221)
BALANCES, shares at end of period	134,315	123,609	134,315	123,609
Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 19,953,679	$ 16,808,644	$ 18,414,694	$ 14,016,389
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	1,141,506	1,694,748	3,739,402	6,351,604
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(19,855)	(32,743)	(11,310)	11,729
Stock options exercised	3,227	2,784	10,350	21,604
Stock option expense	392	475	4,314	4,897
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	16,353	15,009	76,322	54,560
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,599	1,100	4,864	3,700
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(504,242)	(652,078)	(1,388,869)	(2,359,971)
Cash dividends declared	(126,942)	(129,482)	(384,050)	(396,055)
BALANCES, end of period	20,465,717	17,708,457	20,465,717	17,708,457
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	987,249	1,044,164	1,155,212	587,405
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	79,749	104,295	300,557	401,791
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(23,633)	(32,237)	(412,404)	(300,772)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI				427,798
BALANCES, end of period	$ 1,043,365	$ 1,116,222	$ 1,043,365	$ 1,116,222