-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IxHt51jAzb1WYhOUzEyzaMN7nqB2H4rp2E35P16KXO/IZ8uGx76/UqR8RVSNkD8o
 usfPPV1Nn530/sHoCQIeTQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000849869-04-000011.txt : 20040301
<SEC-HEADER>0000849869-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040301
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040301094739
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000849869-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040227
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040301

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:			BEAM JAMES D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199507

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22117
		FILM NUMBER:		04637499

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SILGAN CONTAINERS CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		21800 OXNARD STREET, SUITE 600
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-348-3700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SILGAN CONTAINERS CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		21800 OXNARD STREET, SUITE 600
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4beam3104_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000849869</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SILGAN HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SLGN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199507</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEAM JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SILGAN CONTAINERS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>21800 OXNARD STREET, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President - Silgan Containers</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7154</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100273</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frank W. Hogan, III, Attorney-in-fact for James D. Beam</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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