Stockholders' Equity - Schedule of Change in Stockholder's Equity (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 28, 2024	Sep. 30, 2023
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 21,772,508	$ 20,940,928	$ 22,123,754	$ 19,569,906
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	302,825	1,221,255	1,973,930	4,039,959
Other comprehensive income (loss)	9,405	(19,855)	(6,161)	(11,310)
Stock options exercised		3,227	$ 2,880	10,350
Stock options exercised (in shares)			58
Stock option expense	346	392	$ 4,364	4,314
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	18,575	16,353	90,865	76,322
Amortization of unearned compensation	2,584	1,599	7,684	4,864
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(403,409)	(504,242)	(1,919,029)	(1,388,869)
Cash dividends declared	(128,078)	(126,942)	(388,347)	(384,050)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(18,215)	(23,633)	(333,399)	(412,404)
BALANCES, end of period	21,556,541	21,509,082	21,556,541	21,509,082
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	$ 2,189,371	$ 2,149,693	$ 2,176,243	$ 2,143,520
Stock options exercised		(386)	(1,570)	(2,135)
Stock option expense	346	392	4,364	4,314
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	15,627	14,337	21,207	15,072
Amortization of unearned compensation	2,584	1,599	7,684	4,864
BALANCES, end of period	2,207,928	2,165,635	2,207,928	2,165,635
Retained Earnings [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	29,991,834	27,095,661	28,762,045	24,754,873
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	249,910	1,141,506	1,739,968	3,739,402
Cash dividends declared	(128,078)	(126,942)	(388,347)	(384,050)
BALANCES, end of period	30,113,666	28,110,225	30,113,666	28,110,225
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	(177,638)	(128,972)	(162,072)	(137,517)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	9,405	(19,855)	(6,161)	(11,310)
BALANCES, end of period	(168,233)	(148,827)	(168,233)	(148,827)
Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ (11,432,103)	$ (9,314,764)	$ (9,987,643)	$ (8,498,243)
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period	142,816	131,431	135,252	126,661
Stock options exercised		$ 3,613	$ 4,450	$ 12,485
Stock options exercised (in shares)		(50)	(58)	(181)
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	$ 2,948	$ 2,016	$ 69,658	$ 61,250
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares	(40)	(28)	(886)	(917)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	$ (403,409)	$ (504,242)	$ (1,919,029)	$ (1,388,869)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax (in shares)	2,565	2,962	11,033	8,752
BALANCES, end of period	$ (11,832,564)	$ (9,813,377)	$ (11,832,564)	$ (9,813,377)
BALANCES, shares at end of period	145,341	134,315	145,341	134,315
Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	$ 20,723,525	$ 19,953,679	$ 20,940,634	$ 18,414,694
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	249,910	1,141,506	1,739,968	3,739,402
Other comprehensive income (loss)	9,405	(19,855)	(6,161)	(11,310)
Stock options exercised		3,227	2,880	10,350
Stock option expense	346	392	4,364	4,314
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	18,575	16,353	90,865	76,322
Amortization of unearned compensation	2,584	1,599	7,684	4,864
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(403,409)	(504,242)	(1,919,029)	(1,388,869)
Cash dividends declared	(128,078)	(126,942)	(388,347)	(384,050)
BALANCES, end of period	20,472,858	20,465,717	20,472,858	20,465,717
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period	1,048,983	987,249	1,183,120	1,155,212
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	52,915	79,749	233,962	300,557
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(18,215)	(23,633)	(333,399)	(412,404)
BALANCES, end of period	$ 1,083,683	$ 1,043,365	$ 1,083,683	$ 1,043,365