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Cover Page - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2019
Jan. 24, 2020
Jun. 29, 2019
Cover page.      
Document Type 10-K    
Document Annual Report true    
Document Period End Date Dec. 28, 2019    
Document Transition Report false    
Entity File Number 001-15943    
Entity Registrant Name CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.    
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE    
Entity Tax Identification Number 06-1397316    
Entity Address, Address Line One 251 Ballardvale Street    
Entity Address, City or Town Wilmington    
Entity Address, State or Province MA    
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 01887    
City Area Code 781    
Local Phone Number 222-6000    
Title of 12(b) Security Common stock, $0.01 par value    
Trading Symbol CRL    
Security Exchange Name NYSE    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Yes    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes    
Entity Filer Category Large Accelerated Filer    
Smaller Reporting Company false    
Emerging Growth Company false    
Entity Shell Company false    
Entity Public Float     $ 6,796,882,148
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   48,959,576  
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on May 6, 2020, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) not later than 120 days after December 28, 2019, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. With the exception of the portions of the 2020 Proxy Statement expressly incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K by reference, such document shall not be deemed filed as part of this Form 10-K.
    
Entity Central Index Key 0001100682    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-28    
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2019    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
Amendment Flag false