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Employee Benefit Plan - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jul. 04, 2015 | Jul. 05, 2014 | Jul. 04, 2015 | Jul. 05, 2014
Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan, plan expense | $ 21.2 | $ 22.0 | $ 32.3 | $ 40.2

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- Definition Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nue_EmployeeBenefitPlanAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | nue_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Costs and payments related to employee profit sharing and retirement savings plans. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nue_ProfitSharingAndRetirementSavingsPlanExpense
Namespace Prefix: | nue_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration