The subsidiary's percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in a company.

No definition available.

Name:	nue_EquityMethodInvestmentSubsidiaryOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total amount outstanding under equity method investments applicable credit facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_EquityMethodInvestmentsApplicableCreditFacilitiesAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The equity method investments available credit facilities subject to guarantee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_EquityMethodInvestmentsCreditFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Guarantor obligation percentage of exposure in case of default.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_GuarantorObligationPercentageOfExposureInCaseOfDefault
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate per year in excess of Euribor as of date of the note.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_InterestRatePerYearInExcessOfEuriborAsOfDateOfNote
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of sheet processing facilities operated by equity method investment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_NumberOfSheetProcessingFacilitiesOperatedByEquityInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period used for lag basis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_PeriodUsedForLagBasis
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Step-up to fair value of equity method investment, portion related to identification of goodwill.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate amount of recurring noncash expense charged against earnings in the period to allocate the cost of assets over their estimated remaining economic lives.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate amount of receivables to be collected from related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth, at the financial statement date. which are usually due after one year (or one business cycle).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.11)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DueFromRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between amount at which an investment accounted for under the equity method of accounting is carried (reported) on the balance sheet and amount of underlying equity in net assets the reporting Entity has in the investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the entity's ownership percentage in the investee multiplied by the investee's total equity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentUnderlyingEquityInNetAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66022249&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from an entity that is affiliated with the entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromContributionsFromAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date of maturity or expiration of arrangements with a related party (for example, but not limited to, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties), in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Identify the stated interest rate per the agreement, for example, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=nue_NumitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=nue_SteelTechnologiesLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=nue_DuferdofinMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=nue_NucorJFEMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentAxis=nue_FacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Equity Investments - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) Sheet	Jul. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 EUR (€)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment	$ 808,900		$ 808,900			$ 750,100
Distributions from affiliates			27,453	$ 46,877
Amortization expense due to fair value step-up			44,573	45,443
NuMit LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment	$ 317,700		$ 317,700			321,400
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%		50.00%
Period used for lag basis, in months			1 month
Distributions from affiliates			$ 27,500	46,900
Steel Technologies LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	100.00%		100.00%		100.00%
Number of sheet processing facilities operated by Steel Technologies \| Sheet			26
Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment	$ 275,200		$ 275,200			285,900
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%		50.00%
Period used for lag basis, in months			1 month
Equity method investments, share of net assets	$ 114,500		$ 114,500
Basis difference due to the step-up to fair value of certain assets and liabilities	160,700		160,700
Step-up to fair value of equity method investment, portion related to identification of goodwill			89,800
Amortization expense due to fair value step-up	2,300	$ 2,200	4,800	$ 4,300
Due from related parties, noncurrent	40,800		$ 40,800		€ 35.0	41,900	€ 35.0
Notes receivable, related parties, interest rate			0.83%
Interest rate per year in excess of Euribor as of date of the notes			1.00%
Equity method investments notes payable with parent company, maturity date			Jan. 31, 2022
Nucor JFE [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment	$ 102,700		$ 102,700			71,100
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%		50.00%		50.00%
Period used for lag basis, in months			1 month
Facility A [Member] \| Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments credit facilities, amount	$ 186,400		$ 186,400		€ 160.0
Total amount outstanding under equity method investments credit facilities	$ 163,100		$ 163,100		€ 140.0	$ 146,700	€ 122.5
Guarantor obligation percentage of exposure in case of default	50.00%		50.00%		50.00%
Line of credit facility, maturity period			Apr. 16, 2021