Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Nature of Business. Silgan Holdings Inc., or Silgan, and its subsidiaries conduct business in three market segments: metal containers, closures and plastic containers. Our metal container business is engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and aluminum containers for human and pet food and general line products. Our closures business manufactures and sells metal, composite and plastic closures for food and beverage products. Our plastic container business manufactures and sells custom designed plastic containers and closures for personal care, food, health care, pharmaceutical, household and industrial chemical, pet care, agricultural, automotive and marine chemical products. Our metal container business has operating facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Our closures business has operating facilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Our plastic container business is based in North America. Basis of Presentation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Silgan and our subsidiaries. Newly acquired subsidiaries have been included in the consolidated financial statements from their dates of acquisition. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Generally, our subsidiaries that operate outside the United States use their local currency as the functional currency. The principal functional currencies for our foreign operations are the Euro and the Canadian dollar. Balance sheet accounts of our foreign subsidiaries are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, while revenue and expense accounts are translated at average rates prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. Gains or losses resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies that are not designated as a hedge are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Certain prior years' amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation. Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents represent short-term, highly liquid investments which are readily convertible to cash and have maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase. As a result of our cash management system, checks issued for payment may create negative book balances. Checks outstanding in excess of related book balances are included in trade accounts payable in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in outstanding checks are included in financing activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to treat them as, in substance, cash advances. Inventories. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market (net realizable value). Cost for domestic inventories for our metal container and closures businesses is principally determined on the last-in, first-out basis, or LIFO. Cost for inventories for our plastic container business is principally determined on the first-in, first-out basis, or FIFO. Cost for foreign inventories for our metal container and closures businesses is principally determined on the average cost method. Change in Depreciable Lives. Effective January 1, 2014, we increased the estimated useful lives of certain production equipment by an average of approximately 5 years to a maximum depreciable life of 20 years, based on our evaluation of useful lives with the assistance of a third party appraiser. As a result, income from operations increased by $21.9 million and net income increased by $14.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2014. Property, Plant and Equipment, Net. Property, plant and equipment, net is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Major renewals and betterments that extend the life of an asset are capitalized and repairs and maintenance expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. Design and development costs for molds, dies and other tools that we do not own and that will be used to produce products that will be sold under long-term supply arrangements are capitalized. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of depreciable assets. The principal estimated useful lives are 35 years for buildings and range between 3 years to 20 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the related asset or the life of the lease. Interest incurred on amounts borrowed in connection with the installation of major machinery and equipment acquisitions is capitalized. Capitalized interest of $1.0 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, was recorded as part of the cost of the assets to which it relates and is amortized over the assets’ estimated useful life. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net. We review goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment as of July 1 of each year and more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment. We determined that goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets were not impaired in our annual assessment performed during the third quarter. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Customer relationships have a weighted average life of approximately 18 years. Other definite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of a trade name and technology know-how and have a weighted average life of approximately 9 years. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We assess long-lived assets, including intangible assets with definite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. An impairment exists if the estimate of future undiscounted cash flows generated by the assets is less than the carrying value of the assets. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is then measured by comparing the fair value of the assets to their carrying amount. Hedging Instruments. All derivative financial instruments are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. Changes in fair values of derivatives are recorded in each period in earnings or comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction. We utilize certain derivative financial instruments to manage a portion of our interest rate and natural gas cost exposures. We do not engage in trading or other speculative uses of these financial instruments. For a financial instrument to qualify as a hedge, we must be exposed to interest rate or price risk, and the financial instrument must reduce the exposure and be designated as a hedge. Financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting must maintain a high correlation between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged, both at inception and throughout the hedged period. We utilize certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk. Net investment hedges that qualify for hedge accounting result in the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. We generally do not utilize external derivative financial instruments to manage our foreign currency exchange rate risk. Income Taxes. We account for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period of enactment of such change. No provision is made for U.S. income taxes applicable to undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are indefinitely reinvested. Revenue Recognition. Revenues are recognized when goods are shipped and the title and risk of loss pass to the customer. For those sites where we operate within the customer’s facilities, title and risk of loss pass to the customer upon delivery of product to clearly delineated areas within the common facility, at which time we recognize revenues. Shipping and handling fees and costs incurred in connection with products sold are recorded in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Stock-Based Compensation. We currently have one stock-based compensation plan in effect under which we have issued stock options and restricted stock units to our officers, other key employees and outside directors. A restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of our common stock at a future date. Unvested restricted stock units that have been issued do not have voting rights and may not be disposed of or transferred during the vesting period. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements. In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued an accounting standards update, or ASU, that amends existing guidance to require the presentation of certain debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability rather than as a deferred charge in other assets, net. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, during the fourth quarter of 2015, and applied it retrospectively. Accordingly, prior periods have been restated to conform to current period presentation. As a result of the adoption of this amendment, each of other assets, net and long-term debt decreased by $14.9 million as of December 31, 2014. In November 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that amends existing guidance on deferred taxes classification in the balance sheet. Under prior guidance, we were required to separate deferred income tax assets and liabilities into current and non-current amounts in our balance sheet. This amendment requires us to present deferred tax assets and liabilities entirely as non-current amounts in our balance sheet. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, during the fourth quarter of 2015, and applied it retrospectively. Accordingly, prior periods have been restated to conform to current period presentation. As a result of the adoption of this amendment, prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased by $22.4 million, other assets, net increased by $7.5 million, accrued liabilities decreased by $0.1 million and other liabilities decreased by $14.8 million, all as of December 31, 2014. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2014, the FASB issued an ASU that amends the guidance for revenue recognition. This amendment contains principles that will require an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods and services to customers at an amount that an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. This amendment permits the use of one of two retrospective transition methods. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of this amendment. As a result, this amendment will be effective for us on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted up to one year prior to the effective date. We have not yet selected a transition method and are currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In July 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that amends existing guidance for measuring inventories. This amendment will require us to measure inventories recorded using the first-in, first-out method and the average cost method at the lower of cost and net realizable value. This amendment does not change the methodology for measuring inventories recorded using the last-in, first-out method. This amendment will be effective for us on January 1, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this amendment will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business. Silgan Holdings Inc., or Silgan, and its subsidiaries conduct business in three market segments: metal containers, closures and plastic containers. Our metal container business is engaged in the manufacture and sale of steel and aluminum containers for human and pet food and general line products. Our closures business manufactures and sells metal, composite and plastic closures for food and beverage products. Our plastic container business manufactures and sells custom designed plastic containers and closures for personal care, food, health care, pharmaceutical, household and industrial chemical, pet care, agricultural, automotive and marine chemical products. Our metal container business has operating facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Our closures business has operating facilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Our plastic container business is based in North America.

Basis of Presentation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Silgan and our subsidiaries. Newly acquired subsidiaries have been included in the consolidated financial statements from their dates of acquisition. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Generally, our subsidiaries that operate outside the United States use their local currency as the functional currency. The principal functional currencies for our foreign operations are the Euro and the Canadian dollar. Balance sheet accounts of our foreign subsidiaries are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, while revenue and expense accounts are translated at average rates prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. Gains or losses resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies that are not designated as a hedge are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Certain prior years' amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents represent short-term, highly liquid investments which are readily convertible to cash and have maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase. As a result of our cash management system, checks issued for payment may create negative book balances. Checks outstanding in excess of related book balances are included in trade accounts payable in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in outstanding checks are included in financing activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to treat them as, in substance, cash advances.

Inventories. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market (net realizable value). Cost for domestic inventories for our metal container and closures businesses is principally determined on the last-in, first-out basis, or LIFO. Cost for inventories for our plastic container business is principally determined on the first-in, first-out basis, or FIFO. Cost for foreign inventories for our metal container and closures businesses is principally determined on the average cost method.

Change in Depreciable Lives. Effective January 1, 2014, we increased the estimated useful lives of certain production equipment by an average of approximately 5 years to a maximum depreciable life of 20 years, based on our evaluation of useful lives with the assistance of a third party appraiser. As a result, income from operations increased by $21.9 million and net income increased by $14.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net. Property, plant and equipment, net is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Major renewals and betterments that extend the life of an asset are capitalized and repairs and maintenance expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. Design and development costs for molds, dies and other tools that we do not own and that will be used to produce products that will be sold under

long-term supply arrangements are capitalized. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of depreciable assets. The principal estimated useful lives are 35 years for buildings and range between 3 years to 20 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the related asset or the life of the lease.

Interest incurred on amounts borrowed in connection with the installation of major machinery and equipment acquisitions is capitalized. Capitalized interest of $1.0 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, was recorded as part of the cost of the assets to which it relates and is amortized over the assets’ estimated useful life.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net. We review goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment as of July 1 of each year and more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment. We determined that goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets were not impaired in our annual assessment performed during the third quarter. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Customer relationships have a weighted average life of approximately 18 years. Other definite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of a trade name and technology know-how and have a weighted average life of approximately 9 years.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We assess long-lived assets, including intangible assets with definite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. An impairment exists if the estimate of future undiscounted cash flows generated by the assets is less than the carrying value of the assets. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is then measured by comparing the fair value of the assets to their carrying amount.

Hedging Instruments. All derivative financial instruments are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. Changes in fair values of derivatives are recorded in each period in earnings or comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction.

We utilize certain derivative financial instruments to manage a portion of our interest rate and natural gas cost exposures. We do not engage in trading or other speculative uses of these financial instruments. For a financial instrument to qualify as a hedge, we must be exposed to interest rate or price risk, and the financial instrument must reduce the exposure and be designated as a hedge. Financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting must maintain a high correlation between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged, both at inception and throughout the hedged period.

We utilize certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk. Net investment hedges that qualify for hedge accounting result in the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. We generally do not utilize external derivative financial instruments to manage our foreign currency exchange rate risk.

Income Taxes. We account for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period of enactment of such change. No provision is made for U.S. income taxes applicable to undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that are indefinitely reinvested.

Revenue Recognition. Revenues are recognized when goods are shipped and the title and risk of loss pass to the customer. For those sites where we operate within the customer’s facilities, title and risk of loss pass to the customer upon delivery of product to clearly delineated areas within the common facility, at which time we recognize revenues. Shipping and handling fees and costs incurred in connection with products sold are recorded in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Stock-Based Compensation. We currently have one stock-based compensation plan in effect under which we have issued stock options and restricted stock units to our officers, other key employees and outside directors. A restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of our common stock at a future date. Unvested restricted stock units that have been issued do not have voting rights and may not be disposed of or transferred during the vesting period.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements. In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued an accounting standards update, or ASU, that amends existing guidance to require the presentation of certain debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability rather than as a deferred charge in other assets, net. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, during the fourth quarter of 2015, and applied it retrospectively. Accordingly, prior periods have been restated to conform to current period presentation. As a result of the adoption of this amendment, each of other assets, net and long-term debt decreased by $14.9 million as of December 31, 2014.

In November 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that amends existing guidance on deferred taxes classification in the balance sheet. Under prior guidance, we were required to separate deferred income tax assets and liabilities into current and non-current amounts in our balance sheet. This amendment requires us to present deferred tax assets and liabilities entirely as non-current amounts in our balance sheet. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, during the fourth quarter of 2015, and applied it retrospectively. Accordingly, prior periods have been restated to conform to current period presentation. As a result of the adoption of this amendment, prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased by $22.4 million, other assets, net increased by $7.5 million, accrued liabilities decreased by $0.1 million and other liabilities decreased by $14.8 million, all as of December 31, 2014.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2014, the FASB issued an ASU that amends the guidance for revenue recognition. This amendment contains principles that will require an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods and services to customers at an amount that an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. This amendment permits the use of one of two retrospective transition methods. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of this amendment. As a result, this amendment will be effective for us on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted up to one year prior to the effective date. We have not yet selected a transition method and are currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued an ASU that amends existing guidance for measuring inventories. This amendment will require us to measure inventories recorded using the first-in, first-out method and the average cost method at the lower of cost and net realizable value. This amendment does not change the methodology for measuring inventories recorded using the last-in, first-out method. This amendment will be effective for us on January 1, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this amendment will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.