-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 By4Pyq/gaTXk9++RrSRKbjWrXUs9dKU7m+dteo+nO8uGmZ6kqJr2BabHtL13USXc
 cuJQPIsQ99YOYmY5ICWL3w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000849869-03-000016.txt : 20030611
<SEC-HEADER>0000849869-03-000016.hdr.sgml : 20030611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030611162323
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000849869-03-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030606
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030611

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SILGAN HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000849869
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL CANS [3411]
		IRS NUMBER:				061269834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 LANDMARK SQ
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2039757110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAPEKAS EDWARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199513

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22117
		FILM NUMBER:		03740875

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 LANDMARK SQUARE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2039757110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 LANDMARK SQUARE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lapekas4june03_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   04/22/03  TZ    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-06-06</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000849869</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SILGAN HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>slgn</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
      <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199513</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAPEKAS EDWARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
       </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Nonqualified stock options to purchase common stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>26.44</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-06-06</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionValue>
           <value>26.44</value>
         </transactionValue>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-12-06</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-06-05</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>3000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Frank W. Hogan, III, Attorney-in-fact for Edward A. Lapekas</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-06-11</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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