Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Nov. 29, 2012	Nov. 29, 2007 vote	Jan. 31, 2011	Feb. 24, 2015	Feb. 26, 2013	Oct. 27, 2014
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Conversion of Series B preferred stock											$ 0
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares										412,022
Repurchase of DineEquity common stock									(32,006,000)	(29,698,000)	0
Reissuance of treasury stock									8,207,000	9,080,000	7,453,000
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.875	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 0.75	$ 3.125	$ 3	$ 0
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares issued													35,000
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock													35,000,000
Payments of Stock Issuance Costs													800,000
Convertible Stock Initial Stated Value													$ 1,000
Preferred Stock Accretion Rate per Annum													6.00%
Number of Voting Rights upon Conversion													1
Preferred Stock, Accretion Value for Conversion										1,000
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued per Aggregate Accretion Value Unit					14.44878					14.44878
Conversion of Series B preferred stock, shares												34,900		100
Conversion of Series B preferred stock												47,000,000		120,000
Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities												679,168		1,737
Treasury Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares									387,591	412,022
Reissuance of treasury stock, shares									(359,528)	(318,644)	(433,732)
Reissuance of treasury stock									13,000,000	11,692,000	14,089,000
Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)															$ 0.875
2013 Authorization
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized amount under stock repurchase program																100,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares									367,256
Repurchase of DineEquity common stock									(30,000,000)
2014 Authorization
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized amount under stock repurchase program																	100,000,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares									20,335
Repurchase of DineEquity common stock									(2,000,000)		0
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount	$ 98,000,000								$ 98,000,000