Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]	Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 11,231,861	$ 152,061	$ 2,121,288	$ 11,343,852	$ (118,861)	$ (2,709,675)	$ 10,788,665	$ 443,196
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020		380,154				77,909
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	7,122,370			6,827,461			6,827,461	294,909
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,579				3,579		3,579
Stock options exercised	$ 145,255		38,434			$ 106,821	145,255
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(2,868)					(2,868)
Stock option expense	$ 3,825		3,825				3,825
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	19,305		(24,539)			$ 43,844	19,305
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(1,101)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,600		1,600				1,600
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(3,276,088)					$ (3,276,088)	(3,276,088)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax ,shares						33,802
Cash dividends declared	(497,213)			(497,213)			(497,213)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(150,700)							(150,700)
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2021	14,603,794	$ 152,061	2,140,608	17,674,100	(115,282)	$ (5,835,098)	14,016,389	587,405
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2021		380,154				107,742
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	8,079,640			7,607,337			7,607,337	472,303
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(22,235)				(22,235)		(22,235)
Stock options exercised	$ 22,852		(2,994)			$ 25,846	22,852
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(447)					(447)
Stock option expense	$ 5,372		5,372				5,372
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	69,211		(4,366)			$ 73,577	69,211
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(1,206)
Amortization of unearned compensation	4,900		4,900				4,900
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(2,762,568)					$ 2,762,568	2,762,568
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax ,shares						20,572
Cash dividends declared	(526,564)			(526,564)			(526,564)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(332,293)							(332,293)
Acquisition	427,797							427,797
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2022	19,569,906	$ 152,061	2,143,520	24,754,873	(137,517)	$ (8,498,243)	18,414,694	1,155,212
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2022		380,154				126,661
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	4,912,791			4,524,801			4,524,801	387,990
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(24,555)				(24,555)		(24,555)
Stock options exercised	$ 11,731		(2,864)			$ 14,595	11,731
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(210)					(210)
Stock option expense	$ 4,706		4,706				4,706
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	88,265		24,577			$ 63,688	88,265
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(951)
Amortization of unearned compensation	6,304		6,304				6,304
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(1,567,683)					$ (1,567,683)	(1,567,683)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax ,shares						9,752
Cash dividends declared	(517,629)			(517,629)			(517,629)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(435,047)							(435,047)
Acquisition	74,965							74,965
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 22,123,754	$ 152,061	$ 2,176,243	$ 28,762,045	$ (162,072)	$ (9,987,643)	$ 20,940,634	$ 1,183,120
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2023		380,154				135,252