Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Statement Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings		$ 7,122,370		$ 836,028		$ 1,370,910
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net unrealized income (loss) on hedging derivatives, net of income taxes of $5,000, $400 and ($3,100) for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively		15,112		2,084		(9,833)
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss on settlement of hedging derivatives included in net earnings, net of income taxes of ($3,100), $2,500 and $700 for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively		(9,300)	[1]	7,216	[2]	2,333
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain, net of income taxes of $0 for 2021, 2020 and 2019		(4,041)		17,306		7,873
Adjustment to early retiree medical plan, net of income taxes of $659, ($339) and ($485) for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively		1,875		(1,213)		(1,148)
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss on early retiree medical plan included in net earnings, net of income taxes of ($10), $17 and $49 for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively		(67)	[1]	72	[2]	57
Liquidation of equity method investment in foreign joint venture, net of income taxes of $0 in 2020	[2]			158,640
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		3,579		184,105		(718)
Comprehensive income		7,125,949		1,020,133		1,370,192
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(294,909)		(114,558)		(99,767)
Comprehensive income attributable to Nucor stockholders		$ 6,831,040		$ 905,575		$ 1,270,425

[1] Includes $(9,300) and $(67) net-of-tax impact of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) reclassifications into cost of products sold for net gains on commodity contracts and adjustment to early retiree medical plan, respectively. The tax impacts of these reclassifications were $(3,100) and $(10) respectively.

[2] Includes $7,216 and $72 net-of-tax impact of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 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 $2,500 and $17, respectively. Also includes a $158.6 million reclassification of cumulative foreign currency translation losses into losses and impairments of assets, of which there was no tax impact.