Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales (Note 23)	$ 36,483,939	$ 20,139,658	$ 22,588,858
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of products sold (Notes 6, 13 and 20)	25,458,525	17,911,708	19,909,773
Marketing, administrative and other expenses (Note 6)	1,706,609	615,041	711,248
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(103,068)	10,533	(3,311)
Losses and impairments of assets (Notes 7, 8, 9, 14, 19, 20 and 27)	62,161	613,640	66,916
Interest expense, net (Notes 6, 18 and 19)	158,854	153,198	121,425
Costs, expenses and other, total	27,283,081	19,304,120	20,806,051
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	9,200,858	835,538	1,782,807
Provision for income taxes (Notes 19 and 27)	2,078,488	(490)	411,897
Net earnings	7,122,370	836,028	1,370,910
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	294,909	114,558	99,767
Net earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders	$ 6,827,461	$ 721,470	$ 1,271,143
Net earnings per share (Note 21):
Basic	$ 23.23	$ 2.37	$ 4.14
Diluted	$ 23.16	$ 2.36	$ 4.14