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Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (LIFO Reserve [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
LIFO Reserve [Member]
     
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]      
Balance at beginning of Year $ 624,685us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
$ 607,240us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
$ 763,176us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
Additions charged to costs and expenses   17,445us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
 
Deductions (57,289)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
  (155,936)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
Balance at end of year $ 567,396us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
$ 624,685us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember
$ 607,240us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= nue_LifoReserveMember