Stockholders' Equity - Schedule of Change in Stockholder's Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 03, 2021	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 03, 2021
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 16,143,120	$ 11,861,723	$ 14,603,794	$ 11,231,861
Net earnings	2,727,237	1,571,459	4,954,352	2,558,973
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(26,306)	29,831	44,472	45,132
Stock options exercised	2,233	21,276	$ 18,819	128,800
Stock options exercised (in shares)			359
Stock option expense	3,964	2,575	$ 4,422	2,908
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	(3,546)	(18,338)	39,552	(2,736)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,200	(1,100)	2,600	800
Treasury stock value acquired	(802,569)	(614,286)	(1,707,893)	(916,145)
Cash dividends declared	(132,127)	(120,088)	(266,573)	(242,746)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(56,977)	(23,401)	(268,535)	(97,196)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI	(3,421)		427,798
BALANCES, end of period	17,852,808	12,709,651	17,852,808	12,709,651
Common Stock [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period	380,154	380,154	380,154	380,154
BALANCES, end of period	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061	$ 152,061
BALANCES, shares at end of period	380,154	380,154	380,154	380,154
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 2,163,129	$ 2,160,909	$ 2,140,608	$ 2,121,288
Stock options exercised	(802)	5,337	(1,309)	35,825
Stock option expense	3,964	2,575	4,422	2,908
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	(52,313)	(50,566)	(31,143)	(43,666)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,200	(1,100)	2,600	800
BALANCES, end of period	2,115,178	2,117,155	2,115,178	2,117,155
Retained Earnings [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	19,635,277	12,163,626	17,674,100	11,343,852
Net earnings	2,561,233	1,506,868	4,656,856	2,449,300
Cash dividends declared	(132,127)	(120,088)	(266,573)	(242,746)
BALANCES, end of period	22,064,383	13,550,406	22,064,383	13,550,406
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	(44,504)	(103,560)	(115,282)	(118,861)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(26,306)	29,831	44,472	45,132
BALANCES, end of period	(70,810)	(73,729)	(70,810)	(73,729)
Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ (6,701,401)	$ (2,925,796)	$ (5,835,098)	$ (2,709,675)
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period	114,092	80,912	107,742	77,909
Stock options exercised	$ 3,035	$ 15,939	$ 20,128	$ 92,975
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(49)	(419)	(359)	(2,554)
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	$ 48,767	$ 32,228	$ 70,695	$ 40,930
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares	(775)	(799)	(1,163)	(1,041)
Treasury stock value acquired	$ (802,569)	$ (614,286)	$ (1,707,893)	$ (916,145)
Treasury stock acquired (in shares)	5,100	6,765	12,148	12,145
BALANCES, end of period	$ (7,452,168)	$ (3,491,915)	$ (7,452,168)	$ (3,491,915)
BALANCES, shares at end of period	118,368	86,459	118,368	86,459
Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 15,204,562	$ 11,447,240	$ 14,016,389	$ 10,788,665
Net earnings	2,561,233	1,506,868	4,656,856	2,449,300
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(26,306)	29,831	44,472	45,132
Stock options exercised	2,233	21,276	18,819	128,800
Stock option expense	3,964	2,575	4,422	2,908
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	(3,546)	(18,338)	39,552	(2,736)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,200	(1,100)	2,600	800
Treasury stock value acquired	(802,569)	(614,286)	(1,707,893)	(916,145)
Cash dividends declared	(132,127)	(120,088)	(266,573)	(242,746)
BALANCES, end of period	16,808,644	12,253,978	16,808,644	12,253,978
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	938,558	414,483	587,405	443,196
Net earnings	166,004	64,591	297,496	109,673
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(56,977)	(23,401)	(268,535)	(97,196)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI	(3,421)		427,798
BALANCES, end of period	$ 1,044,164	$ 455,673	$ 1,044,164	$ 455,673