Equity Investments - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2020 USD ($)	Jul. 04, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) Sheet	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 EUR (€)
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments					$ 562,300	$ 624,600
Equity method investments impairment charges					$ 101,756	62,161	$ 613,640
Nucor-JFE [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					50.00%
Principal amount subject to guarantee for other credit facilities					$ 80,000	50,000
Nucor-JFE [Member] | General Financing Agreement and Promissory Note [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments credit facilities subject to guarantee, amount								$ 100,000
Total amount outstanding under equity method investments credit facilities					$ 75,000	90,000
Guarantor obligation percentage of exposure in case of default					50.00%
NuMit LLC [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					50.00%
Equity method investments					$ 423,900	418,700
Period used for lag basis, in months					1 month
Distributions from affiliates					$ 55,600	200	9,500
Steel Technologies LLC [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					100.00%
Number of sheet processing facilities operated by Steel Technologies | Sheet					30
Nucor-JFE Steel Mexico [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					50.00%
Equity method investments					$ 91,800	$ 147,000
Period used for lag basis, in months					1 month
Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					50.00%
Equity method investments	$ 0						0
Period used for lag basis, in months					1 month
Percentage of interest held by other party in other entity					50.00%
Due from related parties, noncurrent	37,800						37,800		€ 35.0
Equity method investments impairment charges	25,400	$ 6,600	$ 5,000	$ 250,000
Cumulative foreign currency translation losses reclassified into earnings	$ 158,600
Equity method investments impairment charges							$ 483,500