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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Current deferred tax assets $ 14.7 $ 18.3
Long term deferred tax assets 7.9 14.1
Current deferred tax liabilities   0.2
Long term deferred tax liabilities 178.0 136.9
Unrecognized tax benefits, income tax penalties and interest accrued 4.5 3.7
Unrecognized tax benefits, net of associated tax assets and excluding federal tax benefit of state taxes, interest and penalties 41.0 39.1
Unrecognized tax benefits would impact effective tax rate 33.0 30.1
Valuation allowance, deferred tax asset, change in amount 4.5  
Net operating loss carryforwards 1.0  
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiration year 2021  
Income tax examination, year(s) under examination The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, has commenced an examination of Silgan's income tax return for the periods ended December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2010.  
Undistributed earnings from foreign earnings 39.8  
Deferred tax liability related to undistributed earnings from foreign earnings If the earnings of foreign subsidiaries were not indefinitely reinvested 13.9  
Other Asset
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Asset associated with uncertain tax position 7.0  
State and Local Jurisdiction
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Net operating loss carryforwards 4.5  
State and Local Jurisdiction | Minimum
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiration year 2013  
State and Local Jurisdiction | Maximum
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Net operating loss carryforwards, expiration year 2028  
Deferred Tax Asset, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Domestic
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Valuation allowance, amount 1.0  
Deferred Tax Asset, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Valuation allowance, amount 6.9  
Deferred Tax Asset, Operating Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards, State and Local
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Valuation allowance, amount 0.9  
Deferred Tax Asset, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Foreign
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Valuation allowance, amount $ 3.1  
Trade Names and Intellectual Property
    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Acquired definite-lived intangible asset, amortization period 15