Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 30, 2024	Apr. 01, 2023
Statement Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests		$ 958,962	$ 1,231,629
Other comprehensive loss:
Net unrealized loss on hedging derivatives, net of income taxes of $(1,700) and $(7,800) for the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively		(5,241)	(24,575)
Reclassification adjustment for settlement of hedging derivatives included in net earnings, net of income taxes of $1,800 and $100 for the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively	[1]	5,341	175
Foreign currency translation gain (loss), net of income taxes of $0 for the first quarter of 2024 and 2023		(15,468)	(3,441)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)		(15,368)	(27,841)
Comprehensive income		943,594	1,203,788
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests		114,121	95,087
Comprehensive income attributable to Nucor stockholders		$ 829,473	$ 1,108,701

[1] Includes $5,341 and $175 net-of-tax impact of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) reclassifications into cost of products sold for net losses on commodity contracts in the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The tax impact of those reclassifications was $1,800 and $100 in the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively.