Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,715,576	$ 4,399,440
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of products sold	3,428,628	4,111,158
Marketing, administrative and other expenses	109,745	124,561
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(9,245)	259
Interest expense, net	44,922	44,417
Costs, expenses and other, total	3,574,050	4,280,395
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	141,526	119,045
Provision for income taxes	37,065	34,753
Net earnings	104,461	84,292
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	33,707	16,492
Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders	$ 70,754	$ 67,800
Net earnings per share:
Basic	$ 0.22	$ 0.21
Diluted	$ 0.22	$ 0.21
Average shares outstanding:
Basic	319,240	320,315
Diluted	319,294	320,483
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.3750	$ 0.3725