Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Silgan Holdings Inc., or Silgan, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Certain prior year's amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year's presentation. You should read the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements. In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued an accounting standards update, or ASU, that amends existing guidance for measuring inventories. This amendment requires 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 did not change the methodology for measuring inventories recorded using the last-in, first-out method. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, effective January 1, 2016, and have applied it prospectively. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In March 2016, the FASB issued an ASU that amends the guidance for stock compensation accounting. This amendment (i) requires all income tax effects of stock-based compensation awards to be recognized in the statement of income when such awards vest or are settled, (ii) allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee's shares upon the vesting or settlement of an award than it could have previously for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting, (iii) allows an employer to make a policy election to recognize forfeitures in respect of awards as they occur and (iv) specifies certain classifications on the statement of cash flows related to excess tax benefits and shares repurchased from employees for tax withholding purposes. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, effective January 1, 2016, and have applied it (i) prospectively as it related to recognizing income tax effects of awards in the statement of income, (ii) using the modified retrospective method as it related to classifying certain awards as equity rather than liabilities and recognizing forfeitures as they occur, and (iii) using the retrospective method as it related to classifying excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 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. 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 February 2016, the FASB issued an ASU that amends existing guidance for certain leases by lessees. This amendment will require us to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by long-term leases and to disclose additional quantitative and qualitative information about leasing arrangements. In addition, this amendment clarifies the presentation requirements of the effects of leases in the statement of income and statement of cash flows. This amendment will be effective for us on January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. This amendment is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Silgan Holdings Inc., or Silgan, have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year.

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.

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

You should read the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements. In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued an accounting standards update, or ASU, that amends existing guidance for measuring inventories. This amendment requires 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 did not change the methodology for measuring inventories recorded using the last-in, first-out method. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, effective January 1, 2016, and have applied it prospectively. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued an ASU that amends the guidance for stock compensation accounting. This amendment (i) requires all income tax effects of stock-based compensation awards to be recognized in the statement of income when such awards vest or are settled, (ii) allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee's shares upon the vesting or settlement of an award than it could have previously for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting, (iii) allows an employer to make a policy election to recognize forfeitures in respect of awards as they occur and (iv) specifies certain classifications on the statement of cash flows related to excess tax benefits and shares repurchased from employees for tax withholding purposes. As permitted, we have adopted this amendment early, effective January 1, 2016, and have applied it (i) prospectively as it related to recognizing income tax effects of awards in the statement of income, (ii) using the modified retrospective method as it related to classifying certain awards as equity rather than liabilities and recognizing forfeitures as they occur, and (iii) using the retrospective method as it related to classifying excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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. 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 February 2016, the FASB issued an ASU that amends existing guidance for certain leases by lessees. This amendment will require us to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the rights and obligations created by long-term leases and to disclose additional quantitative and qualitative information about leasing arrangements. In addition, this amendment clarifies the presentation requirements of the effects of leases in the statement of income and statement of cash flows. This amendment will be effective for us on January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. This amendment is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact of this amendment on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.