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Inventories - Additional Information (Detail) | Sep. 28, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
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Inventory Disclosure [Abstract] |  |
Raw materials and supplies in inventory, percentage | 43.00% | 43.00%
Finished and semi-finished products in inventory, percentage | 57.00% | 57.00%

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- Definition Finished and semi-finished products in inventory, percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | nue_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Raw material and supplies in inventory, percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nue_RawMaterialAndSuppliesInInventoryPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | nue_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InventoryDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration