Business combination acquisition of noncontrolling interest fair value percentage.

No definition available.

Name:	nue_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionOfNoncontrollingInterestFairValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business combination recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Implied percentage to determine fair value of noncontrolling interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nue_ImpliedPercentageToDetermineFairValueOfNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	nue_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120321790&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(10)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120320667&loc=SL49117168-202975

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 852
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84165509&loc=d3e56426-112766

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120321790&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=nue_CHIOverheadDoorsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=nue_CaliforniaSteelIndustriesIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=nue_ValeSAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=nue_JFESteelCorporationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=nue_OtherAcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 24, 2022	Feb. 01, 2022	Jul. 02, 2022	Jul. 03, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 3,929,503		$ 2,827,344
Acquisitions net of cash acquired			3,465,866	$ (300)
C.H.I. Overhead Doors
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, purchase price	$ 3,000,000
Goodwill	1,036,332
Goodwill recognized for tax purposes	$ 5,600
CSI [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, purchase price		$ 400,000
Goodwill		$ 62,011
Acquired controlling ownership percentage		51.00%
Percentage of assets and liabilities		100.00%
Business combination noncontrolling interest fair value percentage not acquired by Nucor		49.00%
Implied percentage to determine fair value of noncontrolling interest		100.00%
CSI [Member] \| Vale S.A [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired controlling ownership percentage		50.00%
CSI [Member] \| JFE Steel Corporation [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired controlling ownership percentage		1.00%
Other Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisitions net of cash acquired			$ 76,200