CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015	Jul. 03, 2016	Jun. 28, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,205,680	$ 1,248,590	$ 2,431,956	$ 2,454,642
Cost of sales	963,667	1,008,274	1,944,690	1,993,936
Gross profit	242,013	240,316	487,266	460,706
Selling, general and administrative expenses	126,611	130,887	260,804	227,552
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	23,278	10,445	32,506	10,086
Income before interest and income taxes	92,124	98,984	193,956	223,068
Interest expense	14,092	14,237	28,281	28,012
Interest income	548	636	950	1,190
Income before income taxes	78,580	85,383	166,625	196,246
Provision for income taxes	24,790	24,023	53,984	50,244
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates	53,790	61,360	112,641	146,002
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	2,928	3,269	4,267	4,315
Net income	56,718	64,629	116,908	150,317
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(466)	(250)	(742)	(158)
Net income attributable to Sonoco	$ 56,252	$ 64,379	$ 116,166	$ 150,159
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	101,281	101,428	101,514	101,406
Diluted (in shares)	101,873	102,424	102,148	102,362
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.63	$ 1.14	$ 1.48
Diluted (in usd per share)	0.55	0.63	1.14	1.47
Cash dividends (usd per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.35	$ 0.72	$ 0.67