Share-Based Compensation (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013	Jul. 13, 2011
Distribution First | Modified Options Sunoco Employees
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Stock option time until expiration (in years)	10 years
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$ 400,000.0	$ 900,000.0	$ 2,600,000.0
Restricted stock units expected to vest (in shares)	138,194
Modified options granted Sonoco employees (in shares)	1,219,842
Stock option range lower (in dollars per share)	$ 4.77
Stock option range upper (in dollars per share)	$ 29.35
Weighted average remaining life (in years)	2 years 1 month
Expected to vest at end of period	200,000
Stock option exercised (in shares)	59,462	167,762	463,699
Stock option canceled (in shares)	14,640	361,604	14,481
Distribution Second | Modified Options
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Stock option time until expiration (in years)	10 years
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	100,000.0
Restricted stock units expected to vest (in shares)	282,277
Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years)	3 years 8 months
Stock option range lower (in dollars per share)	$ 8.93
Stock option range upper (in dollars per share)	$ 22.31
Expected to vest at end of period	1,600,000
Stock option exercised (in shares)	0		13,577
Modified options granted to SunCoke employees (in shares)	295,854
Anti-dilution provision				500,000
SunCoke LTPEP
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Common stock issuable (in shares)					1,600,000
Common stock issuable pursuant to new awards (in shares)					6,000,000
Stock Options
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Granted stock options (in shares)	407,075	446,948	486,182
Stock option time until expiration (in years)	10 years
Granted	$ 22.30	$ 16.55	$ 14.29
Number of annual installment in which stock option exercisable	3
Period from grant date for annual installment (in years)	1 year
Weighted-average fair value stock option (in dollars per share)	$ 7.86	$ 6.00	$ 5.70
Forfeiture rate (as a percent)	3.00%	3.00%	0.00%
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	900,000	100,000	0
Compensation expense	4,700,000	4,600,000	3,800,000
Compensation expense, net of tax	3,000,000	2,900,000	2,300,000
Unrecognized compensation cost	3,400,000
Unrecognized compensation cost, period for recognition (in years)	1 year 8 months
Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years)	7 years 3 months	8 years
Options outstanding (in shares)	2,403,850	2,287,252
Expected to vest at end of period	1,600,000
Aggregate intrinsic value	4,200,000
Stock option exercised (in shares)	185,433
Number of stock options which are fully vested and exercisable ( in shares)	828,226
Stock Options | Executive Officer
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Forfeiture rate (as a percent)	0.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of annual installment in which stock option exercisable	3
Period from grant date for annual installment (in years)	1 year
Compensation expense	3,900,000	2,500,000	1,500,000
Compensation expense, net of tax	2,500,000	1,600,000	900,000
Unrecognized compensation cost	6,200,000
Unrecognized compensation cost, period for recognition (in years)	1 year 8 months
Non-option award units (in shares)	236,844	293,918	83,082
Weighted average grant-date fair value, non-option award units (in dollars per share)	$ 22.06	$ 16.58	$ 14.29
Total fair value of non-option award units vested	2,900,000	1,300,000	800,000
Non-option award units outstanding (in shares)	479,673	501,801
Performance Share Units
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Compensation expense	1,200,000	500,000
Compensation expense, net of tax	700,000	300,000
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 2,300,000
Unrecognized compensation cost, period for recognition (in years)	1 year 8 months
Non-option award units (in shares)		96,073
Weighted average grant-date fair value, non-option award units (in dollars per share)		$ 19.56
Percentage of award determined by the Company's three year TSR (as a percent)	50.00%
Percentage of award determined by pre-tax return on capital (as a percent)	50.00%
Non-option award units outstanding (in shares)	161,438	96,073
Performance Share Units | Distribution First | Units Awarded During Period [Member]
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Non-option award units (in shares)	84,734
Weighted average grant-date fair value, non-option award units (in dollars per share)	$ 26.09
Performance Share Units | Minimum
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage adjustment of award determined by pre-tax return on capital (as a percent)	0.00%
Performance Share Units | Maximum
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage adjustment of award determined by pre-tax return on capital (as a percent)	200.00%