Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total Dolby Laboratories,Inc.[Member]	Controlling Interest [Member]	Class B Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Class A Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member]
Beginning balance, shares at Sep. 28, 2012							56,599,000	46,497,000
Beginning balance, value at Sep. 28, 2012	$ 1,743,233	$ 0	$ 1,709,479	$ 10,687	$ 1,720,269	$ 22,964	$ 57	$ 46
Net income	190,302		189,271		189,271	1,031
Translation adjustments, net of taxes	(2,037)			(1,997)	(1,997)	(40)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(876)			(876)	(876)
Distributions to controlling interest	(5,039)					(5,039)
Stock-based compensation expense	64,328	64,328			64,328
Repurchase of common stock, shares								(2,557,000)
Repurchase of common stock, value	(82,245)	(46,081)	(36,162)		(82,245)			$ (2)
Cash dividends declared and paid on common stock	(408,206)		(408,206)		(408,206)
Tax benefit/(deficiency) from the stock incentive plans	(6,564)	(6,564)			(6,564)
Class A common stock issued under employee stock plans, shares								1,380,000
Class A common stock issued under employee stock plans, value	15,602	15,601			15,602			$ 1
Shares repurchased for tax witholdings on vesting of restricted stock, shares								(263,000)
Shares repurchased for tax witholdings on vesting of restricted stock, value	(8,828)	(8,828)			(8,828)
Transfer of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, shares							(1,806,000)	1,806,000
Transfer of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, value							$ (2)	$ 2
Exercise of Class B stock options, shares							83,000
Exercise of Class B stock options, value	356	356			356
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 27, 2013							54,876,000	46,863,000
Ending balance, value at Sep. 27, 2013	1,500,026	18,812	1,454,382	7,814	1,481,110	18,916	$ 55	$ 47
Net income	208,720		206,103		206,103	2,617
Translation adjustments, net of taxes	(5,004)			(5,102)	(5,102)	98
Unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	302			302	302
Stock-based compensation expense	65,680	65,680			65,680
Repurchase of common stock, shares								(1,390,000)
Repurchase of common stock, value	(56,028)	(56,027)			(56,028)			$ (1)
Tax benefit/(deficiency) from the stock incentive plans	(1,770)	(1,770)			(1,770)
Class A common stock issued under employee stock plans, shares								2,143,000
Class A common stock issued under employee stock plans, value	32,994	32,992			32,994			$ 2
Shares repurchased for tax witholdings on vesting of restricted stock, shares								(337,000)
Shares repurchased for tax witholdings on vesting of restricted stock, value	(13,651)	(13,651)			(13,651)
Transfer of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, shares							(3,380,000)	3,380,000
Transfer of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, value							$ (3)	$ 3
Exercise of Class B stock options, shares							114,000
Exercise of Class B stock options, value	379	379			379
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 26, 2014							51,610,000	50,659,000
Ending balance, value at Sep. 26, 2014	1,731,648	46,415	1,660,485	3,014	1,710,017	21,631	$ 52	$ 51
Net income	183,240		181,390		181,390	1,850
Translation adjustments, net of taxes	(14,858)			(14,321)	(14,321)	(537)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(155)			(155)	(155)
Distributions to controlling interest	(5,615)					(5,615)
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 67,069	67,069			67,069
Repurchase of common stock, shares	(2,938,899)							(2,939,000)
Repurchase of common stock, value	$ (107,349)	(107,346)			(107,349)			$ (3)
Cash dividends declared and paid on common stock	(41,018)		(41,018)		(41,018)
Tax benefit/(deficiency) from the stock incentive plans	(1,484)	(1,484)			(1,484)
Class A common stock issued under employee stock plans, shares								2,087,000
Class A common stock issued under employee stock plans, value	28,620	28,618			28,620			$ 2
Shares repurchased for tax witholdings on vesting of restricted stock, shares								(382,000)
Shares repurchased for tax witholdings on vesting of restricted stock, value	$ (15,708)	(15,708)			(15,708)
Transfer of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, shares							(867,000)	867,000
Transfer of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, value							$ (1)	$ 1
Exercise of Class B stock options, shares	717,000
Exercise of Class B stock options, value	$ 7	7			7
Deconsolidation of subsidiary	(8,390)					(8,390)
Ending balance, shares at Sep. 25, 2015							50,743,000	50,292,000
Ending balance, value at Sep. 25, 2015	$ 1,816,007	$ 17,571	$ 1,800,857	$ (11,462)	$ 1,807,068	$ 8,939	$ 51	$ 51