Stockholders' Equity And Comprehensive Income (Stockholders' Equity And Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010
Stockholders' equity, beginning of period			$ 7,330,694	$ 7,584,289
Net earnings	321,578	106,218	502,700	147,412
Net unrealized loss on hedging derivatives, net of income taxes	(1,613)	(617)	(2,699)	(23,265)
Reclassification adjustment for loss on settlement of hedging derivatives included in net income, net of income taxes	9,199	9,408	18,259	16,199
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	8,517	(48,531)	72,643	(50,218)
Total comprehensive income	337,681	66,478	590,903	90,128
Stock options			10,571	1,855
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures			16,367	16,791
Amortization of unearned compensation			900	1,200
Dividends declared			(230,772)	(228,645)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(43,272)	(10,511)
Stockholders' equity, end of period	7,675,391	7,455,107	7,675,391	7,455,107
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' equity, beginning of period			210,624	193,763
Net earnings			43,086	25,456
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)			5	6
Total comprehensive income			43,091	25,462
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(43,272)	(10,511)
Stockholders' equity, end of period	210,443	208,714	210,443	208,714
Nucor-Yamato Steel Company [Member]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent	51.00%		51.00%
Nucor Trading S.A. [Member]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent	75.00%		75.00%
Barker Steel Company, Inc. [Member]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent	90.00%		90.00%
Nucor [Member]
Stockholders' equity, beginning of period			7,120,070	7,390,526
Net earnings			459,614	121,956
Net unrealized loss on hedging derivatives, net of income taxes			(2,699)	(23,265)
Reclassification adjustment for loss on settlement of hedging derivatives included in net income, net of income taxes			18,259	16,199
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)			72,638	(50,224)
Total comprehensive income			547,812	64,666
Stock options			10,571	1,855
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures			16,367	16,791
Amortization of unearned compensation			900	1,200
Dividends declared			(230,772)	(228,645)
Stockholders' equity, end of period	$ 7,464,948	$ 7,246,393	$ 7,464,948	$ 7,246,393

Amortization of unearned compensation.

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Value of stock related to issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures.

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The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the economic entity, including both controlling (parent) and noncontrolling interests. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, including any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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Cash dividends declared by an entity during the period for all classes of stock (common, preferred). This element includes paid and unpaid dividends declared during the period.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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The consolidating entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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Adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into functional currency of the reporting entity, net of tax.

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Net of tax effect of the reclassification adjustment for accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges included in accumulated comprehensive income that was realized in net income during the period.

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Change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of tax effect. The after tax effect change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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Total of Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors owners, and affiliates of the entity including portions attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests (previously referred to as minority interest), if any. The entity including portions attributable to the parent and noncontrolling interests is sometimes referred to as the economic entity. This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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Value stock issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options.

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