Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 28, 2013	Oct. 21, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001100682
Current Fiscal Year End Date		--12-28
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 28, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus		2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			48,117,860
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,300,514,887