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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 28, 2019 | Sep. 29, 2018 | Sep. 28, 2019 | Sep. 29, 2018
Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Profit Sharing and Retirement Savings Plan, plan expense | $ 40.0 | $ 86.4 | $ 163.7 | $ 226.5

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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