CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2017	Jul. 03, 2016	Jul. 02, 2017	Jul. 03, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,240,674	$ 1,205,680	$ 2,412,998	$ 2,431,956
Cost of sales	1,004,799	963,667	1,956,901	1,944,690
Gross profit	235,875	242,013	456,097	487,266
Selling, general and administrative expenses	157,208	126,611	283,346	260,804
Restructuring/Asset impairment charges	7,897	23,278	12,008	32,506
Income before interest and income taxes	70,770	92,124	160,743	193,956
Interest expense	13,823	14,092	26,908	28,281
Interest income	1,031	548	2,058	950
Income before income taxes	57,978	78,580	135,893	166,625
Provision for income taxes	17,167	24,790	42,706	53,984
Income before equity in earnings of affiliates	40,811	53,790	93,187	112,641
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax	2,845	2,928	4,799	4,267
Net income	43,656	56,718	97,986	116,908
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(531)	(466)	(1,128)	(742)
Net income attributable to Sonoco	$ 43,125	$ 56,252	$ 96,858	$ 116,166
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	100,258	101,281	100,184	101,514
Diluted (in shares)	100,717	101,873	100,849	102,148
Net income attributable to Sonoco:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.56	$ 0.97	$ 1.14
Diluted (in usd per share)	0.43	0.55	0.96	1.14
Cash dividends (usd per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.37	$ 0.76	$ 0.72