Total amount outstanding under equity method investments applicable credit facilities.

No definition available.

Name:	nue_EquityMethodInvestmentsApplicableCreditFacilitiesAmountOutstanding
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The equity method investments available credit facilities subject to guarantee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_EquityMethodInvestmentsCreditFacilities
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The subsidiary's percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in a company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_EquityMethodInvestmentSubsidiaryOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Guarantor obligation percentage of exposure in case of default.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_GuarantorObligationPercentageOfExposureInCaseOfDefault
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate per year in excess of Euribor as of date of the note.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of sheet processing facilities operated by equity method investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period Used For Lag Basis

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Step-up to fair value of equity method investment, portion related to identification of goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_StepUpToFairValueOfEquityMethodInvestmentPortionRelatedToIdentificationOfGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Aggregate amount of receivables to be collected from related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth, at the financial statement date. which are usually due after one year (or one business cycle).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 850

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph k

-Subparagraph 1

-Article 4

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.11)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 11

-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

Difference between amount at which an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting is carried (reported) on the balance sheet and amount of underlying equity in net assets the reporting Entity has in the investee.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ 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 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570

+ Details

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

- Definition

This item represents the entity's ownership percentage in the investee multiplied by the investee's total equity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentUnderlyingEquityInNetAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ 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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date of maturity or expiration of arrangements with a related party (for example, but not limited to, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties), in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Identify the stated interest rate per the agreement, for example, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Equity Investments - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended								3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
Equity Investments - Additional Information (Detail)	Apr. 04, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 05, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 Hunter Ridge Energy Services LLC [Member]	Apr. 04, 2015 Hunter Ridge Energy Services LLC [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Hunter Ridge Energy Services LLC [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 05, 2014 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] EUR (€)	Apr. 04, 2015 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Standby Medium Long Term Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Standby Medium Long Term Credit Facility [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Standby Medium Long Term Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Standby Medium Long Term Credit Facility [Member] EUR (€)	Apr. 04, 2015 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Facility A [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Facility A [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2014 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Facility A [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] Facility A [Member] EUR (€)	Apr. 04, 2015 NuMit LLC [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 NuMit LLC [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 Steel Technologies LLC [Member] Sheet
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment	$ 851,400,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments		$ 872,500,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments		$ 137,500,000	$ 138,600,000	$ 368,200,000			$ 412,900,000										$ 307,800,000	$ 301,500,000
Period used for lag basis, in months				1 month			1 month													1 month
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					50.00%		50.00%													50.00%
Equity method investments, share of net assets							50,200,000
Basis difference due to the step-up to fair value of certain assets and liabilities							318,000,000
Step-up to fair value of equity method investment, portion related to identification of goodwill							263,600,000
Amortization expense and other purchase accounting adjustments due to fair value step-up	18,655,000us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization	18,432,000us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization					2,200,000	2,700,000
Due from related parties, noncurrent							38,200,000		35,000,000	42,500,000	35,000,000
Notes receivable, related parties, interest rate							1.34%
Interest rate per year in excess of Euribor as of date of the notes							1.00%
Equity method investments note payable with parent company, maturity date							Jan. 31, 2019
Equity method investments credit facilities, amount																133,700,000	122,500,000
Total amount outstanding under equity method investments credit facilities												$ 65,500,000	€ 60,000,000	$ 72,800,000	€ 60,000,000	$ 126,100,000	€ 115,500,000	$ 129,900,000	€ 107,000,000
Line of credit facility, maturity period							Apr. 26, 2016					Apr. 22, 2016	Apr. 22, 2016
Guarantor obligation percentage of exposure in case of default												50.00%	50.00%			50.00%	50.00%
Equity method investment, ownership percentage																						100.00%
Number of sheet processing facilities operated by Steel Technologies																						25