Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Apr. 02, 2022	Apr. 03, 2021
Statement Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings		$ 2,227,115	$ 987,514
Other comprehensive income:
Net unrealized income on hedging derivatives, net of income taxes of $16,800 and $400 for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively		53,476	999
Reclassification adjustment for settlement of hedging derivatives included in net earnings, net of income taxes of $(1,700) and $100 for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively	[1]	(5,390)	501
Foreign currency translation gain, net of income taxes of $0 for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021		22,692	13,801
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		70,778	15,301
Comprehensive income		2,297,893	1,002,815
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		131,492	45,082
Comprehensive income attributable to Nucor stockholders		$ 2,166,401	$ 957,733

[1] Includes $(5,390) and $501 net-of-tax impact of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) reclassifications into cost of products sold for net (gains) losses on commodity contracts in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively. The tax impact of those reclassifications was $(1,700) and $100 in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively.