Additional common stock units for election of deferred annual incentive award, percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	nue_AdditionalCommonStockUnitsForElectionOfDeferredAnnualIncentiveAwardPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Age for eligible employee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_AgeForEligibleEmployee
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of annual incentive award payment participant can elect to defer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_AmountOfAnnualIncentiveAwardPaymentParticipantCanElectToDefer
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fraction of restricted stock award vesting on anniversary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_FractionOfRestrictedStockAwardVestingOnAnniversary
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Installments in which restricted stock units vest and are converted to common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_InstallmentsInWhichRestrictedStockUnitsVestAndAreConvertedToCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of anniversaries of grant date upon which restricted stock units vest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_NumberOfAnniversariesOfGrantDateUponWhichRestrictedStockUnitsVest
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stock option exercise price as percentage of market value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_StockOptionExercisePriceAsPercentageOfMarketValue
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period in which a stock option can be exercised.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_StockOptionTerm
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 64

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6793087&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph g(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph h

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The noncash expense that accounts for the value of stock or unit options distributed to employees as compensation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 64

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph i

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013 Installment	Sep. 29, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options exercise prices as percentage of the market value on the date of the grant			100.00%
Compensation expenses for stock options		$ 0.3	$ 8.6	$ 9.5
Number of anniversaries of grant date upon which restricted stock units vest			3
Eligible age of officer for LTIP restricted stock award			55
LTIP [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Portion of restricted stock award vesting on anniversary			0.333
AIP [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Amount of annual incentive award payment participant can elect to defer			50.00%
Additional common stock units for election of deferred annual incentive award, percentage			25.00%
RSU [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Installments in which restricted stock units vest and are converted to common stock			3
Compensation expense	5.3	4.7	27.5	29.6
Unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock	34.2		34.2
Weighted-average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock (years)			2 years 3 months 18 days
AIP and LTIP [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	1.2	0.5	4.5	3.6
Unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock	$ 0.9		$ 0.9
Weighted-average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock (years)			1 year 9 months 18 days
Stock Option Granted From 2010 Through 2013 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options vesting period			3 years
Stock options term, years			10 years