Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 04, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 04, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,225,514	$ 5,701,869	$ 12,982,563	$ 16,101,388
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of products sold	3,701,678	5,102,283	11,784,139	14,708,733
Marketing, administrative and other expenses	124,339	152,604	377,492	418,851
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(115)	(2,352)	(550)	(10,028)
Interest expense, net	45,341	45,349	131,944	130,481
Costs, expenses and other, total	3,871,243	5,297,884	12,293,025	15,248,037
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	354,271	403,985	689,538	853,351
Provision for income taxes	86,535	129,784	178,166	282,519
Net earnings	267,736	274,201	511,372	570,832
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	40,610	28,754	91,691	67,313
Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders	$ 227,126	$ 245,447	$ 419,681	$ 503,519
Net earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.71	$ 0.76	$ 1.30	$ 1.57
Diluted	$ 0.71	$ 0.76	$ 1.30	$ 1.57
Average shares outstanding:
Basic	320,819	320,023	320,544	319,737
Diluted	320,900	320,337	320,695	320,025
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.3725	$ 0.3700	$ 1.1175	$ 1.1100