Employee Benefit Plan - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract]
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan, plan expense	$ 11.8	$ 11.1

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