Dividend date paid.

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- Definition

Number of Shares Authorized for Repurchase.

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- Definition

Number of shares to be repurchased under authorization plan.

+ Details

Name:	son_NumberOfSharesToBeRepurchasedUnderAuthorizationPlan
Namespace Prefix:	son
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Shareholders' Equity.

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- Definition

Stock repurchased during period to satisfy obligations shares.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	son
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stock repurchased during period to satisfy obligations value.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	son
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Change in additional paid in capital as a result of a reallocation of a subsidiary's stockholders' equity to noncontrolling interest due to the subsidiary issuing stock. This reallocation is from a capital transaction.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

+ Details

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Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The day, month and year (YYYY-MM-DD) that the dividend to be paid was declared.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 32

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The date as of when a holder must own the stock to be entitled to the dividend. The ex-dividend date is generally 3 days before the record date.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The day, month, and year (YYYY-MM-DD) that the dividend declared as of or prior to the financial reporting date will be paid in the subsequent period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 32

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
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- Definition

Decrease in noncontrolling interest as a result of redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(2)

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
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Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow to return capital to noncontrolled interest, which generally occurs when noncontrolling shareholders reduce their ownership stake (in a subsidiary of the entity). This element does not include dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 18

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and have not been retired and are not held in treasury. Some state laws may govern the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 1
-Section B
-Paragraph 11A

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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- Definition

This element represents the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30, 31
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 1
-Section B
-Paragraph 11A

+ Details

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Shareholders Equity (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Jun. 27, 2010	Jul. 20, 2011	Jun. 10, 2011	Dec. 03, 2010
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests					$ 5,718
Shareholders' Equity (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of securities excluded from computation of dilutive earning per share					1,186,225	1,894,994
Number of Shares Authorized for Repurchase					5,000,000
Number of shares to be repurchased under authorization plan									2,000,000
Shares repurchased under buyback program		695,036		1,304,964
Cost of shares repurchased		23,219		46,298
Stock repurchase under stock appreciation rights and performance based stock awards, value					1,306	328
Stock repurchase under stock appreciation rights and performance based stock awards, shares					31,924	10,290
Dividend Declared and payable	$ 0.29		$ 0.29
Dividend payable date of record	Aug. 19, 2011		May 13, 2011
Dividend declared date	Jul. 20, 2011		Apr. 20, 2011
Dividend date paid								Jun. 10, 2011
Dividend payable date							Sep. 09, 2011
Sonoco For Plas [Member]
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests			5,718
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests			2,727
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Reallocation of Noncontrolling Interest			$ 2,991
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners			0.00%	49.00%	0.00%