CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,312,314	$ 1,353,931	$ 3,861,095	$ 4,065,357
Cost of sales	1,055,304	1,088,446	3,089,512	3,254,415
Gross profit	257,010	265,485	771,583	810,942
Selling, general and administrative expenses	126,117	120,322	371,376	395,096
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	24,149	6,615	59,633	30,642
Operating profit	106,744	138,548	340,574	385,204
Non-operating pension costs	7,453	7,210	22,632	18,801
Interest expense	19,377	17,286	55,469	50,116
Interest income	796	2,530	2,158	4,023
Income before income taxes	80,710	116,582	264,631	320,310
Provision for income taxes	(649)	26,098	49,337	77,213
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates	81,359	90,484	215,294	243,097
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	1,939	1,799	3,230	4,240
Net income	83,298	92,283	218,524	247,337
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	151	(219)	581	(451)
Net income attributable to Sonoco	$ 83,449	$ 92,064	$ 219,105	$ 246,886
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	100,974	100,778	100,935	100,727
Diluted (in shares)	101,245	101,186	101,155	101,158
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.83	$ 0.91	$ 2.17	$ 2.45
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.82	$ 0.91	$ 2.17	$ 2.44