Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Dec. 22, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SPAN AMERICA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-01
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,895,654
Entity Public Float			$ 35,709,512
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000718924
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Oct. 01, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY