Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2021	Apr. 04, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,017,140	$ 5,624,337
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of products sold	5,394,703	4,995,069
Marketing, administrative and other expenses	291,124	153,392
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(13,239)	823
Losses on assets	6,662	287,846
Interest expense, net	39,644	40,910
Costs, expenses and other, total	5,718,894	5,478,040
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	1,298,246	146,297
Provision for income taxes	310,732	91,918
Net earnings	987,514	54,379
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	45,082	34,048
Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders	$ 942,432	$ 20,331
Net earnings per share:
Basic	$ 3.10	$ 0.07
Diluted	$ 3.10	$ 0.07
Average shares outstanding:
Basic	301,846	302,909
Diluted	302,518	302,932