Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64808268&loc=d3e32022-110900

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 35
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82918529&loc=d3e30304-110892

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64808268&loc=d3e32211-110900

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=d3e637-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=slgn_USDInterestRateSwapContractOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=slgn_USDInterestRateSwapContractTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=slgn_BankBorrowingsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=slgn_SeniorNotesFiveandOneHalfPercentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=slgn_FourandThreeQuartersPercentSeniorNotesdue2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=slgn_ThreeandOneQuarterPercentSeniorNotesdue2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=slgn_FivePercentSeniorNotesdue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=slgn_FiveandOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesdue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=slgn_ThreeandOneQuarterPercentSeniorNotesdue2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=slgn_FourandThreeQuartersPercentSeniorNotesdue2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017
USD Interest Rate Swap Contract One [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional principal amount of outstanding of the interest rate swap agreement	$ 50,000	$ 50,000
Fixed interest rate	2.878%	2.878%
USD Interest Rate Swap Contract Two [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional principal amount of outstanding of the interest rate swap agreement	$ 50,000	$ 50,000
Fixed interest rate	2.878%	2.878%
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 181,220	$ 181,220
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	181,220	181,220
Bank debt [Member] \| Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	1,617,851	1,617,851
Bank debt [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	1,617,851	1,617,851
5 1/2% Senior Notes [Member] \| Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	300,000	300,000
5 1/2% Senior Notes [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	304,524	304,524
4 3/4% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	300,000	300,000
4 3/4% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	286,698	286,698
3 1/4% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	759,460	759,460
3 1/4% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt	$ 770,708	$ 770,708
5% Senior Notes due 2020 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Senior note interest rate (percent)	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%
5 1/2% Senior Notes due 2022 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Senior note interest rate (percent)	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%
3 1/4% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Senior note interest rate (percent)	3.25%	3.25%	3.25%	3.25%
4 3/4% Senior Notes due 2025 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Senior note interest rate (percent)	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Foreign currency gains of net investment hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 19,200	$ 9,600