Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2021	Oct. 03, 2020	Oct. 02, 2021	Oct. 03, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 10,313,223	$ 4,927,960	$ 26,119,527	$ 14,879,603
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of products sold	6,906,950	4,425,765	18,617,314	13,370,181
Marketing, administrative and other expenses	526,345	165,513	1,204,539	460,922
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(32,464)	(479)	(65,106)	14,422
Losses on assets		6,604	50,970	299,450
Interest expense, net	43,285	40,139	118,709	116,856
Costs, expenses and other, total	7,444,116	4,637,542	19,926,426	14,261,831
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	2,869,107	290,418	6,193,101	617,772
Provision for income taxes	645,842	67,788	1,410,863	207,610
Net earnings	2,223,265	222,630	4,782,238	410,162
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	95,522	29,215	205,195	87,535
Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders	$ 2,127,743	$ 193,415	$ 4,577,043	$ 322,627
Net earnings per share:
Basic	$ 7.29	$ 0.63	$ 15.37	$ 1.06
Diluted	$ 7.28	$ 0.63	$ 15.34	$ 1.06
Average shares outstanding:
Basic	290,510	303,394	296,431	303,072
Diluted	291,152	303,441	296,928	303,099