Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 21, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SPAN AMERICA MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-29
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,922,729
Entity Public Float			$ 40,589,092
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	Sep. 29, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY