Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock
Common stock, shares, outstanding, beginning (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		19,041,000
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 315,179	$ 253	$ 274,202	$ 336,578	$ (164)	$ (295,690)
Treasury stock, shares, beginning (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013						6,258,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	36,453			36,453
Other comprehensive loss	$ 91				91
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)	387,591	(388,000)				388,000
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	$ (32,006)					$ (32,006)
Reissuance of treasury stock (shares)		360,000				(360,000)
Reissuance of treasury stock	8,207		(4,793)			$ 13,000
Net issuance of shares for stock plans (shares)		(21,000)
Net issuance of shares for stock plans	0	$ (1)	1
Repurchase of restricted shares (shares)		(38,000)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(3,194)		(3,194)
Stock-based compensation	9,319		9,319
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	4,316		4,316
Dividends on common stock	(59,292)		95	(59,387)
Common stock, shares, outstanding, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		18,954,000
Stockholders' Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2014	279,073	$ 252	279,946	313,644	(73)	$ (314,696)
Treasury stock, shares, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014						6,286,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	104,923			104,923
Other comprehensive loss	$ (34)				(34)
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)	721,463	(722,000)				722,000
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	$ (70,014)					$ (70,014)
Reissuance of treasury stock (shares)		357,000				(357,000)
Reissuance of treasury stock	9,536		(3,377)			$ 12,913
Net issuance of shares for stock plans (shares)		(21,000)
Net issuance of shares for stock plans	0	$ 0	0
Repurchase of restricted shares (shares)		(33,000)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(3,499)		(3,499)
Stock-based compensation	8,892		8,892
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	4,862		4,862
Dividends on common stock	$ (66,516)		128	(66,644)
Common stock, shares, outstanding, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	18,535,027	18,535,000
Stockholders' Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 267,223	$ 252	286,952	351,923	(107)	$ (371,797)
Treasury stock, shares, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	6,651,021					6,651,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 97,992			97,992
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)	650,384	(650,000)				650,000
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	$ (55,343)					$ (55,343)
Reissuance of treasury stock (shares)		137,000				(137,000)
Reissuance of treasury stock	1,409		(3,468)			$ 4,877
Net issuance of shares for stock plans (shares)		(19,000)
Net issuance of shares for stock plans	0	$ (1)	1
Repurchase of restricted shares (shares)		(33,000)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(2,859)		(2,859)
Stock-based compensation	10,926		10,926
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	1,132		1,132
Dividends on common stock	$ (67,708)		125	(67,833)
Common stock, shares, outstanding, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	17,969,636	17,970,000
Stockholders' Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 252,772	$ 251	$ 292,809	$ 382,082	$ (107)	$ (422,263)
Treasury stock, shares, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	7,164,587					7,165,000