Capital expenditures by segment, which includes cash and non-cash expenditures.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of recurring noncash expense charged against earnings in the period to allocate the cost of assets over their estimated remaining economic lives.

+ 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)

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.18)

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-Section S99

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 7

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 18

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+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Segments - Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 04, 2014	Jul. 05, 2014	Apr. 05, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,003,753us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 5,701,869us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 5,291,075us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 5,108,444us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 4,894,750us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 4,940,936us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 4,665,588us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 4,550,772us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 21,105,141us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 19,052,046us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 19,429,273us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									1,204,577	791,123	852,940
Depreciation expense									652,000us-gaap_Depreciation	535,852us-gaap_Depreciation	534,010us-gaap_Depreciation
Total assets	15,615,927us-gaap_Assets				15,203,283us-gaap_Assets				15,615,927us-gaap_Assets	15,203,283us-gaap_Assets	14,152,059us-gaap_Assets
Amortization expense									72,423us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization	74,356us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization	73,011us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization
Capital expenditures									568,867nue_SegmentCapitalExpenditures	1,230,418nue_SegmentCapitalExpenditures	1,019,334nue_SegmentCapitalExpenditures
Steel Mills [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									1,594,352	1,156,715	1,162,270
Depreciation expense									366,568	332,258	366,182
Total assets	9,097,576				8,365,023				9,097,576	8,365,023	7,894,974
Amortization expense									15,269	13,911	8,750
Capital expenditures									343,767	589,621	369,463
Steel Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									166,323	82,129	(17,140)
Depreciation expense									42,777	42,737	47,948
Total assets	2,885,209				2,861,403				2,885,209	2,861,403	2,935,146
Amortization expense									27,644	31,082	35,152
Capital expenditures									27,262	22,472	31,698
Raw Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									(29,053)	13,686	55,264
Depreciation expense									235,443	154,065	112,939
Total assets	3,927,159				3,956,913				3,927,159	3,956,913	3,400,690
Amortization expense									29,510	29,363	29,109
Capital expenditures									197,252	610,745	604,312
Net Sales to External Customers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									21,105,141	19,052,046	19,429,273
Net Sales to External Customers [Member] \| Steel Mills [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									14,723,642	13,311,948	13,781,797
Net Sales to External Customers [Member] \| Steel Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									4,032,385	3,607,333	3,738,381
Net Sales to External Customers [Member] \| Raw Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,349,114	2,132,765	1,909,095
Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales
Intercompany Eliminations [Member] \| Steel Mills [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									2,904,317	2,563,554	2,609,411
Intercompany Eliminations [Member] \| Steel Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									105,383	97,090	71,277
Intercompany Eliminations [Member] \| Raw Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									9,618,145	9,116,860	9,514,163
Intercompany Eliminations [Member] \| Corporate/Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									(12,627,845)	(11,777,504)	(12,194,851)
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									(527,045)	(461,407)	(347,454)
Total assets	(294,017)				19,944				(294,017)	19,944	(78,751)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation expense									7,212	6,792	6,941
Capital expenditures									$ 586	$ 7,580	$ 13,861