Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]	Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 10,201,968	$ 152,061	$ 2,073,715	$ 10,337,445	$ (304,133)	$ (2,467,010)	$ 9,792,078	$ 409,890
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		380,154				74,562
Net earnings	1,370,910			1,271,143			1,271,143	99,767
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(718)				(718)		(718)
Stock options exercised	$ 16,146		1,624			$ 14,522	16,146
Stock options exercised (in shares)	425					(425)
Stock option expense	$ 4,662		4,662				4,662
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	62,735		25,637			$ 37,098	62,735
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(1,095)
Amortization of unearned compensation	2,008		2,008				2,008
Treasury stock value acquired	(298,541)					$ (298,541)	(298,541)
Treasury stock value acquired ,shares						5,300
Cash dividends declared	(491,647)			(491,647)			(491,647)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(76,347)							(76,347)
Other				(1,885)	1,885
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2019	10,791,176	$ 152,061	2,107,646	11,115,056	(302,966)	$ (2,713,931)	10,357,866	433,310
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2019		380,154				78,342
Net earnings	836,028			721,470			721,470	114,558
Other comprehensive income (loss)	184,105				184,105		184,105
Stock options exercised	$ 11,846		2,590			$ 9,256	11,846
Stock options exercised (in shares)	266					(266)
Stock option expense	$ 2,736		2,736				2,736
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	51,898		17,399			$ 34,499	51,898
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(992)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,753		1,753				1,753
Treasury stock value acquired	(39,499)					$ (39,499)	(39,499)
Treasury stock value acquired ,shares						825
Cash dividends declared	(492,674)			(492,674)			(492,674)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(115,508)							(115,508)
Other			(10,836)				(10,836)	10,836
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2020	11,231,861	$ 152,061	2,121,288	11,343,852	(118,861)	$ (2,709,675)	10,788,665	443,196
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2020		380,154				77,909
Net earnings	7,122,370			6,827,461			6,827,461	294,909
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,579				3,579		3,579
Stock options exercised	$ 145,255		38,434			$ 106,821	145,255
Stock options exercised (in shares)	2,868					(2,868)
Stock option expense	$ 3,825		3,825				3,825
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	19,305		(24,539)			$ 43,844	19,305
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(1,101)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,600		1,600				1,600
Treasury stock value acquired	(3,276,088)					$ (3,276,088)	(3,276,088)
Treasury stock value acquired ,shares						33,802
Cash dividends declared	(497,213)			(497,213)			(497,213)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(150,700)							(150,700)
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 14,603,794	$ 152,061	$ 2,140,608	$ 17,674,100	$ (115,282)	$ (5,835,098)	$ 14,016,389	$ 587,405
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2021		380,154				107,742