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Debt and Other Financing Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Jul. 31, 2020 | May 31, 2020 | Apr. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Annual aggregate long-term debt maturities - 2021 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |
Annual aggregate long-term debt maturities - 2022 | 601,000,000.0 | 601,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  | 601,000,000.0 |
Annual aggregate long-term debt maturities - 2023 | 500,000,000.0 | 500,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  | 500,000,000.0 |
Annual aggregate long-term debt maturities - 2024 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Annual aggregate long-term debt maturities - 2025 | 500,000,000.0 | 500,000,000.0 |  |  |  |  | 500,000,000.0 |
Annual aggregate long-term debt maturities - thereafter | 3,800,000,000 | 3,800,000,000 |  |  |  |  | 3,800,000,000 |
Net proceeds of debt issuances |  |  |  | $ 989,400,000 | $ 986,100,000 |  |  |
Debt issuance costs | 30,859,000 | 30,859,000 |  | 8,400,000 | 11,900,000 |  | $ 30,859,000 | $ 25,259,000
Ratio funded debt to total capital |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32.00% |
Payment of premium component of debt exchange |  | 180,300,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 180,383,000 |
Credit facilities, amount outstanding | 57,906,000 | 57,906,000 |  |  |  |  | 57,906,000 | 62,444,000
Variable Rate Green Bonds [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of bonds | $ 162,600,000 |  | $ 162,600,000 |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, term | 40 years |  | 40 years |  |  |  |  |
Notes, 3.950%, due 2028 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 500,000,000 | $ 500,000,000 |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  | $ 500,000,000 | 500,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate | 3.95% | 3.95% |  |  | 3.95% |  | 3.95% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  |  |  |  | 2028 |  | 2028 |
Notes, 4.400%, due 2048 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 329,219,000 | $ 329,219,000 |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  | $ 329,219,000 | 500,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate | 4.40% | 4.40% |  |  | 4.40% |  | 4.40% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  |  |  |  | 2048 |  | 2048 |
Notes, 5.85%, due June 1st, 2018 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  |  |
Debt instrument interest rate |  |  |  |  | 5.85% |  |  |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  |  |  |  | 2018 |  |  |
Repayments of debt |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  |  |
Debt instrument - maturity date |  |  |  |  | Jun. 01, 2018 |  |  |
Notes, 2.000%, due 2025 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  |  |  |
Debt instrument interest rate |  |  |  | 2.00% |  |  |  |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  |  |  | 2025 |  |  |  |
Notes, 2.700%, due 2030 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  |  |  |
Debt instrument interest rate |  |  |  | 2.70% |  |  |  |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  |  |  | 2030 |  |  |  |
Notes, 6.400%, due 2037 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 543,331,000 | $ 543,331,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 543,331,000 | 650,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate | 6.40% | 6.40% |  |  |  |  | 6.40% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2037 |
Notes, 5.200%, due 2043 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 338,133,000 | $ 338,133,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 338,133,000 | 500,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate | 5.20% | 5.20% |  |  |  |  | 5.20% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2043 |
Notes, 2.979%, due 2055 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 439,317,000 | $ 439,317,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 439,317,000 |
Debt instrument interest rate | 2.979% | 2.979% |  |  |  |  | 2.979% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  | 2055 |  |  |  |  | 2055 |
Harris Steel [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility availability | $ 19,600,000 | $ 19,600,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 19,600,000 | 19,600,000
Credit facilities, amount outstanding | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0
Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility availability |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,500,000,000 |  |
Line of revolving credit facility expiration date |  |  |  |  |  | 2023-04 |  |
Ratio on the limit of funded debt to capital on credit facility |  |  |  |  |  | 60.00% |  |
Credit facilities, amount outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0
Letter of Credit [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility availability |  |  |  |  |  | $ 100,000,000.0 |  |
Credit facilities, amount outstanding | 63,300,000 | 63,300,000 |  |  |  |  | 63,300,000 | 28,000,000.0
Letter of Credit [Member] | Nucor Trading S.A. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facilities, amount outstanding | 57,900,000 | 57,900,000 |  |  |  |  | 57,900,000 | $ 62,400,000
Foreign Currency Loans [Member] | Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility availability |  |  |  |  |  | 850,000,000.0 |  |
Revolving Loans For Nucor Subsidiaries [Member] | Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility availability |  |  |  |  |  | 500,000,000.0 |  |
Additional Commitments at Nucor's Election in Accordance with Terms of Credit Agreement [Member] | Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Credit facility availability |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000.0 |  |
Exchanged Debt [Member] | Notes, 4.400%, due 2048 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 170,800,000 | $ 170,800,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 170,800,000 |
Debt instrument interest rate | 4.40% | 4.40% |  |  |  |  | 4.40% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  | 2048 |  |  |  |  |  |
Exchanged Debt [Member] | Notes, 6.400%, due 2037 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 106,700,000 | $ 106,700,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 106,700,000 |
Debt instrument interest rate | 6.40% | 6.40% |  |  |  |  | 6.40% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  | 2037 |  |  |  |  |  |
Exchanged Debt [Member] | Notes, 5.200%, due 2043 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument face amount | $ 161,900,000 | $ 161,900,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 161,900,000 |
Debt instrument interest rate | 5.20% | 5.20% |  |  |  |  | 5.20% |
Debt instrument - maturity year |  | 2043 |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28555-108399 + Details
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- Definition The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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- Definition The maximum amount of borrowing capacity under a line of credit that is available as of the balance sheet date for a specific purpose other than for financing goods acquired for inventory or imminent delivery to a customer. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6802200&loc=d3e1835-112601 + Details
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