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Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Apr. 04, 2015
Apr. 05, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
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%nue_StockOptionExercisePriceAsPercentageOfMarketValue    
Compensation expenses for stock options $ 100,000us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense $ 0us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense  
Restricted Stock [Member] | LTIP [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Portion of restricted stock award vesting on anniversary     33.30%nue_FractionOfRestrictedStockAwardVestingOnAnniversary
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nue_LtipMember
Eligible age of officer for LTIP restricted stock award     55 years
Restricted Stock Units [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Unrecognized compensation expense related to stock 24,200,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Weighted-average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense related to stock (years) 1 year 8 months 12 days    
Number of anniversaries of grant date upon which restricted stock units vest 3nue_NumberOfAnniversariesOfGrantDateUponWhichRestrictedStockUnitsVest
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Installments in which restricted stock units vest and are converted to common stock 3nue_InstallmentsInWhichRestrictedStockUnitsVestAndAreConvertedToCommonStock
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Compensation expense 5,300,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
4,900,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
 
Restricted Stock Units [Member] | 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%nue_AmountOfAnnualIncentiveAwardPaymentParticipantCanElectToDefer
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nue_AipMember
   
Additional common stock units for election of deferred annual incentive award, percentage 25.00%nue_AdditionalCommonStockUnitsForElectionOfDeferredAnnualIncentiveAwardPercentage
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nue_AipMember
   
Stock Options [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock options vesting period 3 years    
Stock options term, years 10 years    
Unrecognized compensation expense related to stock 400,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense related to stock (years) 2 years 2 months 12 days    
Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Units [Member] | AIP and LTIP [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Unrecognized compensation expense related to stock 1,300,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nue_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nue_AipAndLtipMember
   
Weighted-average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense related to stock (years) 2 years 1 month 6 days    
Compensation expense $ 1,100,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nue_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nue_AipAndLtipMember
$ 1,200,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= nue_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nue_AipAndLtipMember