Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 14, 2012
Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	SPAN AMERICA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000718924
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-29
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,919,000
Document Information
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1