CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,245,485	$ 1,359,721	$ 2,548,781	$ 2,711,426
Cost of sales	997,502	1,084,385	2,034,208	2,165,969
Gross profit	247,983	275,336	514,573	545,457
Selling, general and administrative expenses	121,371	132,213	245,259	274,774
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	22,885	13,355	35,484	24,027
Operating profit	103,727	129,768	233,830	246,656
Non-operating pension costs	7,600	5,550	15,179	11,591
Interest expense	19,563	16,798	36,092	32,830
Interest income	878	846	1,362	1,493
Income before income taxes	77,442	108,266	183,921	203,728
Provision for income taxes	23,230	28,491	49,986	51,115
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates	54,212	79,775	133,935	152,613
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	778	1,511	1,291	2,441
Net income	54,990	81,286	135,226	155,054
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	221	(127)	430	(232)
Net income attributable to Sonoco	$ 55,211	$ 81,159	$ 135,656	$ 154,822
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	100,971	100,759	100,915	100,700
Diluted (in shares)	101,109	101,178	101,109	101,129
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.81	$ 1.34	$ 1.54
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.80	$ 1.34	$ 1.53