Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 15, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document And Entity Information Abstract
Entity Registrant Name	BEMIS CO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000011199
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 4,876,642,461
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		92,450,468
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY