CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TOTAL EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Common Shares	Capital in Excess of Stated Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings	Non- controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 1,554,705	$ 7,175	$ 321,050	$ (738,380)	$ 1,942,513	$ 22,347
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			99,193,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		177,447				175,345	2,102
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain/(loss)		89,108			88,003		1,105
Defined benefit plan adjustment	[1]	59,924			59,924
Derivative financial instruments	[1]	(2,580)			(2,580)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		146,452			145,347		1,105
Dividends		(154,773)				(154,773)
Issuance of stock awards		1,636		1,636
Issuance of stock awards (in shares)			341,000
Shares repurchased		(6,335)		(6,335)
Shares repurchased (in shares)			(120,000)
Stock-based compensation		13,488		13,488
Noncontrolling interest from acquisition		(2,560)					(2,560)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		1,730,060	$ 7,175	330,157	(666,272)	2,036,006	22,994
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			99,414,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		314,739				313,560	1,179
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain/(loss)		(54,763)			(52,607)		(2,156)
Defined benefit plan adjustment	[1]	(20,244)			(20,244)
Derivative financial instruments	[1]	(1,614)			(1,614)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		(76,621)			(74,465)		(2,156)
Dividends		(163,348)				(163,348)
Issuance of stock awards		1,688		1,688
Issuance of stock awards (in shares)			682,000
Shares repurchased		(14,561)		(14,561)
Shares repurchased (in shares)			(267,000)
Stock-based compensation		10,730		10,730
Purchase of Sonoco Asia noncontrolling interest		(35,000)		(23,305)			(11,695)
Noncontrolling interest from acquisition		2,870					2,870
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 1,772,278	$ 7,175	304,709	(740,913)	2,188,115	13,192
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		99,829,000	99,829,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income		$ 292,668				291,785	883
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain/(loss)		8,270			9,108		(838)
Defined benefit plan adjustment	[1]	(87,033)			(87,033)
Derivative financial instruments	[1]	2,035			2,035
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		(76,728)			(75,890)		(838)
Dividends		(171,597)				(171,597)
Issuance of stock awards		1,343		1,343
Issuance of stock awards (in shares)			538,000
Shares repurchased		(9,608)		(9,608)
Shares repurchased (in shares)			(169,000)
Stock-based compensation		14,334		14,334
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(214)					(214)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,815,705	$ 7,175	$ 310,778	$ (816,803)	$ 2,301,532	$ 13,023
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		100,198,000	100,198,000

[1] net of tax