Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 104,346	$ 80,354	$ (342,750)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows provided by operating activities:
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0	0	531,634
Depreciation and amortization	42,493	32,175	30,648
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	10,808	10,546	10,752
Non-cash interest expense	3,369	3,792	3,364
Loss on extinguishment of debt	8,276	0	0
Closure and impairment charges	1,485	2,038	3,834
Deferred income taxes	(5,494)	(11,847)	(136,127)
Deferred revenue	(7,695)	(5,577)	0
Gain on disposition of assets	(332)	(623)	(6,285)
Other	(5,374)	(949)	(10,980)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(396)	3,149	(8,430)
Current income tax receivables and payables	8,677	8,119	(8,490)
Gift card receivables and payables	(1,037)	(1,488)	(3,322)
Other current assets	(498)	10,425	(8,247)
Accounts payable	583	(9,940)	7,208
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	(3,575)	13,183	(1,126)
Other current liabilities	(456)	6,989	4,050
Cash flows provided by operating activities	155,180	140,346	65,733
Cash flows from investing activities
Principal receipts from notes, equipment contracts and other long-term receivables	24,075	25,771	20,486
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,540	655	1,100
Acquisition of business	0	(20,155)	0
Additions to property and equipment	(19,424)	(14,279)	(13,370)
Additions to long-term receivables	(6,955)	(6,500)	0
Other	(389)	(293)	(541)
Cash flows (used in) provided by investing activities	(153)	(14,801)	7,675
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,300,000	0	0
Repayment of long-term debt	(1,283,750)	(13,000)	(3,250)
Borrowings from revolving credit facilities	0	75,000	0
Repayments of revolving credit facilities	(25,000)	(50,000)	0
Dividends paid on common stock	(46,859)	(51,125)	(69,790)
Repurchase of Dine Brands common stock	(109,698)	(33,603)	(10,003)
Principal payments of finance lease obligations	13,639
Principal payments of finance lease obligations		(13,907)	(12,949)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(13,150)	(3,633)	0
Proceeds from stock options exercised	11,969	3,928	2,635
Tax payments for restricted stock upon vesting	(2,728)	(1,972)	(2,396)
Other	(76)	0	0
Cash flows used in financing activities	(182,931)	(88,312)	(95,753)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(27,904)	37,233	(22,345)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	200,379	163,146	185,491
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	172,475	200,379	163,146
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	66,104	66,059	67,522
Income taxes paid	44,748	34,246	59,528
Non-cash conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable	$ 185	$ 11,959	$ 5,286