BUSINESS DESCRIPTION (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011 facility person
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
Number of individuals employed by the entity	20,200
Number of manufacturing facilities	80

Represents the number of manufacturing facilities held by the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	bms_ManufacturingFacilitiesNumber
Namespace Prefix:	bms_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration