The Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
The Company	The Company 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. The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1976 with the name IHOP Corp. In November 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Applebee's International, Inc., which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Effective June 2, 2008, the name of the Company was changed to DineEquity, Inc. ("DineEquity"). The Company owns, franchises and operates two restaurant concepts: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar^® ("Applebee's"), in the bar and grill segment of the casual dining category of the restaurant industry, and International House of Pancakes^® ("IHOP^®"), in the family dining category of the restaurant industry. As of December 31, 2012, there were a total of 1,581 IHOP restaurants, of which 1,404 were subject to franchise agreements, 165 were subject to area license agreements and 12 were company-operated restaurants. IHOP restaurants were located in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, two United States territories and five countries outside of the United States. As of December 31, 2012, there were a total of 2,034 Applebee's restaurants, of which 2,011 were subject to franchise agreements and 23 were company-operated restaurants. Applebee's 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 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. The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1976 with the name IHOP Corp. In November 2007, the Company completed the acquisition of Applebee's International, Inc., which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Effective June 2, 2008, the name of the Company was changed to DineEquity, Inc. ("DineEquity"). The Company owns, franchises and operates two restaurant concepts: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar^® ("Applebee's"), in the bar and grill segment of the casual dining category of the restaurant industry, and International House of Pancakes^® ("IHOP^®"), in the family dining category of the restaurant industry.

As of December 31, 2012, there were a total of 1,581 IHOP restaurants, of which 1,404 were subject to franchise agreements, 165 were subject to area license agreements and 12 were company-operated restaurants. IHOP restaurants were located in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, two United States territories and five countries outside of the United States. As of December 31, 2012, there were a total of 2,034 Applebee's restaurants, of which 2,011 were subject to franchise agreements and 23 were company-operated restaurants. Applebee's 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.