The Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
The Company [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	The Company The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1976 with the name IHOP Corp. Effective June 2, 2008, the name of the Company was changed to DineEquity, Inc. ("DineEquity"). The Company owns and operates two restaurant concepts: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar®, or Applebee's, in the bar and grill segment of the casual dining category of the restaurant industry, and International House of Pancakes®, or IHOP®, in the family dining category of the restaurant industry. The first International House of Pancakes restaurant opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California. Shortly thereafter the Company's predecessor began developing and franchising additional restaurants. As of December 31, 2011, there were a total of 1,550 IHOP restaurants, of which 1,369 were subject to franchise agreements, 166 were subject to area license agreements and 15 were company-operated restaurants. IHOP restaurants are located in all 50 states of the United States, two United States territories and three countries outside of the United States. In November 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Applebee's International, Inc. ("Applebee's"), which became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. As of December 31, 2011, there were a total of 2,019 Applebee's restaurants, of which 1,842 were subject to franchise agreements and 177 were company-operated restaurants. The restaurants were located in 49 states, one United States territory and 15 countries outside of the United States. References herein to Applebee's and IHOP restaurants are to these two restaurant concepts, whether operated by franchisees, area licensees or the Company. Retail sales at restaurants that are owned by franchisees and area licensees are not attributable to the Company.

The Company

The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1976 with the name IHOP Corp. Effective June 2, 2008, the name of the Company was changed to DineEquity, Inc. ("DineEquity"). The Company owns and operates two restaurant concepts: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar®, or Applebee's, in the bar and grill segment of the casual dining category of the restaurant industry, and International House of Pancakes®, or IHOP®, in the family dining category of the restaurant industry. The first International House of Pancakes restaurant opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California. Shortly thereafter the Company's predecessor began developing and franchising additional restaurants. As of December 31, 2011, there were a total of 1,550 IHOP restaurants, of which 1,369 were subject to franchise agreements, 166 were subject to area license agreements and 15 were company-operated restaurants. IHOP restaurants are located in all 50 states of the United States, two United States territories and three countries outside of the United States.

In November 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Applebee's International, Inc. ("Applebee's"), which became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. As of December 31, 2011, there were a total of 2,019 Applebee's restaurants, of which 1,842 were subject to franchise agreements and 177 were company-operated restaurants. The restaurants were located in 49 states, one United States territory and 15 countries outside of the United States.

References herein to Applebee's and IHOP restaurants are to these two restaurant concepts, whether operated by franchisees, area licensees or the Company. Retail sales at restaurants that are owned by franchisees and area licensees are not attributable to the Company.