CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 10, 2015	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 1,242,592	$ 1,262,503	$ 3,697,234	$ 3,700,151
Cost of sales		1,013,219	1,040,059	3,007,155	3,038,996
Gross profit		229,373	222,444	690,079	661,155
Selling, general and administrative expenses		130,341	110,507	357,893	360,712
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges		19,551	5,908	29,637	11,571
Income before interest and income taxes		79,481	106,029	302,549	288,872
Interest expense		14,340	13,620	42,352	40,574
Interest income		653	702	1,843	1,878
Income before income taxes		65,794	93,111	262,040	250,176
Provision for income taxes		24,775	27,539	75,019	79,322
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates		41,019	65,572	187,021	170,854
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax		2,976	2,294	7,291	6,896
Net income		43,995	67,866	194,312	177,750
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(81)	(810)	(239)	(858)
Net income attributable to Sonoco		$ 43,914	$ 67,056	$ 194,073	$ 176,892
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)		101,548	102,128	101,454	102,451
Diluted (in shares)		102,405	103,087	102,387	103,425
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
Basic (in usd per share)		$ 0.43	$ 0.66	$ 1.91	$ 1.73
Diluted (in usd per share)		0.43	0.65	1.90	1.71
Cash dividends (usd per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.35	$ 0.32	$ 1.02	$ 0.95