Stock Incentive Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Fair Value Assumptions [Table Text Block]

The per share fair value of performance-based awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $48.48, $53.14, and $46.42, respectively, which the Company determined using a Monte Carlo simulation and the following assumptions:

	2016		2015		2014
Average risk-free interest rate	1.31	%	1.07	%	0.76	%
Expected volatility (Bemis Company, Inc.)	16.3	%	15.1	%	19.7	%

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes stock awards unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2016:

	Time-Based				Performance-Based
	Weighted-average grant date share value		Stock Awards (in thousands)		Weighted-average grant date share value		Stock Awards (in thousands)
Outstanding units granted at the beginning of the year	$	35.55	1,425		$	44.68	333
Units granted	45.56		212		48.48		241
Units paid (in shares)	31.58		(854	)	37.32		(122	)
Units forfeited / canceled	42.99		(37	)	41.89		(14	)
Outstanding units granted at the end of the year	42.05		746		49.43		438