Financial Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jul. 03, 2011	Jun. 27, 2010	Jul. 03, 2011	Jun. 27, 2010
Financial Segment Information
Net sales	$ 1,127,865	$ 1,010,116	$ 2,245,188	$ 1,945,249
Intersegment Sales	32,924	36,866	69,584	67,639
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	(9,578)	(2,511)	(11,895)	(6,458)
Other, net	(991)		(251)
Income before interest and income taxes	82,239	90,374	171,833	166,049
Consumer Packaging Segment [Member]
Financial Segment Information
Net sales	450,797	392,484	910,206	774,117
Intersegment Sales	711	596	1,363	1,127
Income before interest and income taxes	34,990	42,136	80,934	87,792
Tubes and Cores, Paper Segment [Member]
Financial Segment Information
Net sales	455,818	415,640	899,885	785,514
Intersegment Sales	21,970	24,562	47,133	44,817
Income before interest and income taxes	37,250	36,920	65,863	58,423
Packaging Services Segment [Member]
Financial Segment Information
Net sales	123,789	113,759	244,965	225,672
Intersegment Sales	300	290	603	516
Income before interest and income taxes	8,247	3,568	14,342	8,647
All Other Sonoco [Member]
Financial Segment Information
Net sales	97,461	88,233	190,132	159,946
Intersegment Sales	9,943	11,418	20,485	21,179
Income before interest and income taxes	$ 12,321	$ 10,261	$ 22,840	$ 17,645

Financial Segment Information.

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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The aggregate amount provided for estimated restructuring charges, remediation costs, and asset impairment loss during an accounting period. Generally, these items are either unusual or infrequent, but not both (in which case they would be extraordinary items).

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

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Amount of interest revenue net of interest expense for the reportable segment. Reporting interest revenue net of interest expense is permitted only when a majority of the segment's revenues are from interest and the chief operating decision maker relies primarily on net interest revenue to assess the performance of the segment and make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment. In all other segment disclosure situations, interest revenue must be reported separately from interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph end

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Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity. Must be disclosed if the amount (a) is included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) is otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph b

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