Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock (at cost) [Member]	Total Nucor Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
BALANCES, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 14,604	$ 152	$ 2,141	$ 17,674	$ (115)	$ (5,835)	$ 14,017	$ 587
BALANCES, shares at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2021		380,200				107,700
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	8,079			7,607			7,607	472
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(22)				(22)		(22)
Stock options exercised	$ 23		(3)			$ 26	23
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(447)					(400)
Stock option expense	$ 5		5				5
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	70		(4)			$ 74	70
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(1,200)
Amortization of unearned compensation	5		5				5
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(2,763)					$ (2,763)	(2,763)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax ,shares						20,600
Cash dividends declared	(527)			(527)			(527)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(332)							(332)
Acquisition	428							428
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2022	19,570	$ 152	2,144	24,754	(137)	$ (8,498)	18,415	1,155
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2022		380,200				126,700
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	4,913			4,525			4,525	388
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(25)				(25)		(25)
Stock options exercised	$ 12		(3)			$ 15	12
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(210)					(200)
Stock option expense	$ 5		5				5
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	87		24			$ 63	87
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(1,000)
Amortization of unearned compensation	6		6				6
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(1,568)					$ (1,568)	(1,568)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax ,shares						9,800
Cash dividends declared	(517)			(517)			(517)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(435)							(435)
Acquisition	75							75
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2023	22,123	$ 152	2,176	28,762	(162)	$ (9,988)	20,940	1,183
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2023		380,200				135,300
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	2,319			2,027			2,027	292
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(46)				(46)		(46)
Stock options exercised	$ 4		(1)			$ 5	4
Stock options exercised (in shares)	(64)					(100)
Stock option expense	$ 5		5				5
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures	109		33			$ 76	109
Issuance of stock under award plans, net of forfeitures, shares						(900)
Amortization of unearned compensation	10		10				10
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax	(2,237)					$ (2,237)	(2,237)
Treasury stock acquired and net impact of excise tax ,shares						13,100
Cash dividends declared	(518)			(518)			(518)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(352)							(352)
BALANCES, end of period at Dec. 31, 2024	$ 21,417	$ 152	$ 2,223	$ 30,271	$ (208)	$ (12,144)	$ 20,294	$ 1,123
BALANCES, shares at end of period at Dec. 31, 2024		380,200				147,400