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Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment net of accumulated depreciation, under a capital lease agreement $ 22,800,000nue_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetUnderCapitalLeases $ 0nue_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetUnderCapitalLeases  
Gross property, plant and equipment acquired under capital lease 25,400,000us-gaap_CapitalLeasedAssetsGross    
Total obligations associated with capital lease agreement 23,200,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations 0us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations  
Capital lease obligations classified in accrued expenses and other current liabilities 2,200,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent    
Capital lease obligations classified in deferred credits and other liabilities 21,000,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsNoncurrent    
Property plant and equipment written down   21,000,000us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges  
Inventory written down   7,000,000nue_InventoryWrittenDown  
Insurance receivable   14,000,000us-gaap_LossContingencyReceivable  
Associated net charges included in marketing, administrative and other expenses   14,000,000nue_ProductionRelatedImpairmentOrCharge  
Initial payments from insurance receivables 10,300,000us-gaap_LossContingencyRelatedReceivableCarryingValueReceipts    
Property, plant and equipment, net 5,287,639,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet 4,917,024,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet  
Interest expenses capitalized 2,900,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized 10,900,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized 4,700,000us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized
Two remaining storage domes [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, net 20,000,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= nue_TwoRemainingStorageDomesMember		    
Net Fixed Assets Associated with Anticipated Further Development Activities at the St. James Parish Site [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, net $ 84,100,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= nue_NetFixedAssetsAssociatedWithAnticipatedFurtherDevelopmentActivitiesAtTheStJamesParishSiteMember		 $ 84,100,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= nue_NetFixedAssetsAssociatedWithAnticipatedFurtherDevelopmentActivitiesAtTheStJamesParishSiteMember		  
Minimum [Member] | Land and Improvements [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives range 5 years    
Minimum [Member] | Buildings and Improvements [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives range 4 years    
Minimum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives range 2 years    
Maximum [Member] | Land and Improvements [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives range   25 years  
Maximum [Member] | Buildings and Improvements [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives range   40 years  
Maximum [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member]      
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]      
Estimated useful lives range   15 years