Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017
Statement Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 1,370,910		$ 2,481,084		$ 1,380,571
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized (loss) income on hedging derivatives, net of income taxes of ($3,100), ($300) and $(2,600) for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively	(9,833)		(3,568)		(4,523)
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss on settlement of hedging derivatives included in net earnings, net of income taxes of $700, $0 and $400 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively	2,333	[1]	(132)	[2]	973
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes of $0 for 2019, 2018 and 2017	7,873		(47,133)		68,657
Adjustment to early retiree medical plan, net of income taxes of ($485), $514 and ($767) for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively	(1,148)		1,731		(1,530)
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss on early retiree medical plan included in net earnings, net of income taxes of $49, ($108) and ($279) for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively	57	[1]	(350)	[2]	(415)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	(718)		(49,452)		63,162
Comprehensive income	1,370,192		2,431,632		1,443,733
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(99,767)		(120,317)		(61,883)
Comprehensive income attributable to Nucor stockholders	$ 1,270,425		$ 2,311,315		$ 1,381,850

[1] Includes $2,333 and 57 net-of-tax impact of accumulated other comprehensive income reclassifications into cost of products sold for net losses on commodity contracts and adjustment to early retiree medical plan, respectively. The tax impacts of these reclassifications were $700 and $49, respectively.

[2] Includes ($132) and ($350) net-of-tax impact of accumulated other comprehensive income reclassifications into cost of products sold for net losses on commodity contracts and adjustment to early retiree medical plan, respectively. The tax impacts of these reclassifications were $0 and ($108), respectively