Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of goodwill			$ 0
Intangible assets, Gross Amount	$ 1,393,618,000		1,393,618,000		$ 1,364,188,000
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	635,991,000		635,991,000		593,516,000
Intangible asset amortization expense	18,500,000	$ 18,800,000	54,100,000	$ 55,700,000
Future amortization expense, in 2016	72,000,000		72,000,000
Future amortization expense, in 2017	72,900,000		72,900,000
Future amortization expense, in 2018	69,700,000		69,700,000
Future amortization expense, in 2019	66,900,000		66,900,000
Future amortization expense, in 2020	64,500,000		64,500,000
Entity Nucor Obtained Control Of [Member] | Marketing Administrative and Other Expenses [Member]
Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gain resulting from valuation associated with transaction	13,600,000		13,600,000
Other [Member]
Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross Amount	59,375,000		59,375,000		23,025,000
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	20,057,000		20,057,000		$ 17,943,000
Other [Member] | Entity Nucor Obtained Control Of [Member]
Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, Gross Amount	36,300,000		36,300,000
Intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization	$ 1,000,000		$ 1,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, useful life			5 years
Maximum [Member]
Finite And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, useful life			22 years