CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TOTAL EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Impact of new accounting pronouncements	Common Shares	Capital in Excess of Stated Value	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Impact of new accounting pronouncements	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Impact of new accounting pronouncements	Non- controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 1,730,060	$ 1,721	$ 7,175	$ 330,157	$ (666,272)	$ (176)	$ 2,036,006	$ 1,897	$ 22,994
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017				99,414,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)		314,739						313,560		1,179
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain/(loss)		(54,763)				(52,607)				(2,156)
Defined benefit plan adjustment	[1]	(20,244)				(20,244)
Derivative financial instruments	[1]	(1,614)				(1,614)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		(76,621)				(74,465)				(2,156)
Dividends		(163,348)						(163,348)
Issuance of stock awards		1,688			1,688
Issuance of stock awards (in shares)				682,000
Shares repurchased		(14,561)			(14,561)
Shares repurchased (in shares)				(267,000)
Stock-based compensation		10,730			10,730
Purchase of Sonoco Asia noncontrolling interest		(35,000)			(23,305)					(11,695)
Noncontrolling interest from acquisition		2,870								2,870
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		1,772,278	(6,771)	$ 7,175	304,709	(740,913)		2,188,115	(6,771)	13,192
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018				99,829,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)		292,668						291,785		883
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain/(loss)		8,270				9,108				(838)
Defined benefit plan adjustment	[1]	(87,033)				(87,033)
Derivative financial instruments	[1]	2,035				2,035
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		(76,728)				(75,890)				(838)
Dividends		(171,597)						(171,597)
Issuance of stock awards		1,343			1,343
Issuance of stock awards (in shares)				538,000
Shares repurchased		(9,608)			(9,608)
Shares repurchased (in shares)				(169,000)
Stock-based compensation		14,334			14,334
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests		(214)								(214)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,815,705	$ (209)	$ 7,175	310,778	(816,803)		2,301,532	$ (209)	13,023
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		100,198,000		100,198,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/(loss)		$ 207,241						207,463		(222)
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Translation gain/(loss)		46,092				47,970				(1,878)
Defined benefit plan adjustment	[1]	11,666				11,666
Derivative financial instruments	[1]	325				325
Other comprehensive income/(loss)		58,083				59,961				(1,878)
Dividends		(173,570)						(173,570)
Issuance of stock awards		1,154			1,154
Issuance of stock awards (in shares)				398,000
Shares repurchased		(8,483)			(8,483)
Shares repurchased (in shares)				(149,000)
Stock-based compensation		10,607			10,607
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020		$ 1,910,528		$ 7,175	$ 314,056	$ (756,842)		$ 2,335,216		$ 10,923
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020		100,447,000		100,447,000

[1] net of tax