Stockholders' Equity - Schedule of Change in Stockholder's Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021	Oct. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 17,852,808	$ 12,709,651	$ 14,603,794	$ 11,231,861
Net earnings	1,799,043	2,223,265	6,753,395	4,782,238
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(32,743)	(12,172)	11,729	32,960
Stock options exercised	2,784	15,075	$ 21,604	143,874
Stock options exercised (in shares)			421
Stock option expense	475	458	$ 4,897	3,367
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	15,009	11,629	54,560	8,893
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,100	400	3,700	1,200
Treasury stock value acquired	(652,078)	(857,703)	(2,359,971)	(1,773,848)
Cash dividends declared	(129,482)	(116,888)	(396,055)	(359,634)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(32,237)	(23,423)	(300,772)	(120,619)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI			427,798
BALANCES, end of period	18,824,679	13,950,292	18,824,679	13,950,292
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	$ 2,115,178	$ 2,117,155	$ 2,140,608	$ 2,121,288
Stock options exercised	(1,181)	2,699	(2,489)	38,523
Stock option expense	475	458	4,897	3,367
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	12,949	10,802	(18,195)	(32,864)
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,100	400	3,700	1,200
BALANCES, end of period	2,128,521	2,131,514	2,128,521	2,131,514
Retained Earnings [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	22,064,383	13,550,406	17,674,100	11,343,852
Net earnings	1,694,748	2,127,743	6,351,604	4,577,043
Cash dividends declared	(129,482)	(116,888)	(396,055)	(359,634)
BALANCES, end of period	23,629,649	15,561,261	23,629,649	15,561,261
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	(70,810)	(73,729)	(115,282)	(118,861)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(32,743)	(12,172)	11,729	32,960
BALANCES, end of period	(103,553)	(85,901)	(103,553)	(85,901)
Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ (7,452,168)	$ (3,491,915)	$ (5,835,098)	$ (2,709,675)
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period	118,368	86,459	107,742	77,909
Stock options exercised	$ 3,965	$ 12,376	$ 24,093	$ 105,351
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(62)	(285)	(421)	(2,839)
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	$ 2,060	$ 827	$ 72,755	$ 41,757
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares	(31)	(19)	(1,194)	(1,060)
Treasury stock value acquired	$ (652,078)	$ (857,703)	$ (2,359,971)	$ (1,773,848)
Treasury stock acquired (in shares)	5,334	8,200	17,482	20,345
BALANCES, end of period	$ (8,098,221)	$ (4,336,415)	$ (8,098,221)	$ (4,336,415)
BALANCES, shares at end of period	123,609	94,355	123,609	94,355
Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 16,808,644	$ 12,253,978	$ 14,016,389	$ 10,788,665
Net earnings	1,694,748	2,127,743	6,351,604	4,577,043
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(32,743)	(12,172)	11,729	32,960
Stock options exercised	2,784	15,075	21,604	143,874
Stock option expense	475	458	4,897	3,367
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	15,009	11,629	54,560	8,893
Amortization of unearned compensation	1,100	400	3,700	1,200
Treasury stock value acquired	(652,078)	(857,703)	(2,359,971)	(1,773,848)
Cash dividends declared	(129,482)	(116,888)	(396,055)	(359,634)
BALANCES, end of period	17,708,457	13,422,520	17,708,457	13,422,520
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	1,044,164	455,673	587,405	443,196
Net earnings	104,295	95,522	401,791	205,195
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(32,237)	(23,423)	(300,772)	(120,619)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in CSI			427,798
BALANCES, end of period	$ 1,116,222	$ 527,772	$ 1,116,222	$ 527,772