Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Apr. 04, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Statement Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings		$ 54,379	$ 530,793
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Net unrealized (loss) income on hedging derivatives, net of income taxes of $(800) and $200 for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively		(2,256)	731
Reclassification adjustment for settlement of hedging derivatives included in net income, net of income taxes of $700 and $(200) for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively	[1]	2,056	(631)
Foreign currency translation loss, net of income taxes of $0 for the first quarter of 2020 and 2019		(64,461)	(6,640)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		(64,661)	(6,540)
Comprehensive (loss) income		(10,282)	524,253
Comprehensive (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(34,048)	(28,987)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Nucor stockholders		$ (44,330)	$ 495,266

[1] Includes $2,056 and $(631) of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) reclassifications into cost of products sold for net losses on commodity contracts in the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively. The tax impact of those reclassifications was $700 and $(200) in the first quarter of 2020 and 2019, respectively.