Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jul. 02, 2011

Summary Of Stock Options Activity

	Shares			Weighted - Average Exercise Price		Weighted - Average Remaining Contractual Life		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Number of shares under option:
Outstanding at beginning of year		983		$	29.14
Granted		560		$	42.34
Exercised		(164	)	$	19.58			$	4,446
Canceled		—			—
Outstanding at July 2, 2011		1,379		$	35.63		5.9 years	$	8,614
Options exercisable at July 2, 2011		577		$	26.70		0.7 years	$	8,581

Schedule Of Grant Date Fair Value Black-Scholes Option-Pricing Model Assumptions

Exercise price	$	42.34
Expected dividend yield		3.42	%
Expected stock price volatility		49.40	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.39	%
Expected life (years)		6.5

RSU [Member]

Summary Of Nucor's Restricted Stock Unit Activity

	Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted stock units:
Unvested at beginning of year		1,203		$	49.96
Granted		490		$	42.34
Vested		(597	)	$	50.05
Canceled		(10	)	$	48.39
Unvested at July 2, 2011		1,086		$	46.48
Shares reserved for future grants (stock options and RSUs)		13,709

AIP And LTIP [Member]

Summary Of Nucor's Restricted Stock Unit Activity

	Shares			Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted stock awards and units:
Unvested at beginning of year		141		$	44.62
Granted		118		$	46.41
Vested		(141	)	$	47.81
Canceled		—			—
Unvested at July 2, 2011		118		$	42.59
Shares reserved for future grants		1,482