Employee Benefit Plan - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Apr. 04, 2015	Apr. 05, 2014
Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract]
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan, plan expense	$ 11.1	$ 18.2

Costs and payments related to employee profit sharing and retirement savings plans.

No definition available.

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