Business Combinations (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				6 Months Ended	18 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2011	Sep. 28, 2010	Sep. 27, 2011	Sep. 28, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 bakery-cafes	Jul. 26, 2011 Indiana Franchisee Acquisition [Member] bakery-cafes	Sep. 27, 2011 Milwaukee Franchisee Acquisition [Member]	Oct. 19, 2012 Milwaukee Franchisee Acquisition [Member] months bakery-cafes	Apr. 19, 2011 Milwaukee Franchisee Acquisition [Member] bakery-cafes	Sep. 29, 2010 New Jersey Franchisee Acquisition [Member] bakery-cafes	Mar. 31, 2010 Canada Franchisee Acquisition [Member]	Mar. 30, 2010 Canada Franchisee Acquisition [Member] bakery-cafes	Feb. 09, 2011 Texas Divestiture [Member] bakery-cafes	Apr. 27, 2010 Alabama Divestiture [Member] bakery-cafes
Business Combination [Line Items]
Number of bakery cafe (in stores)						5			25	37		3	2	3
Purchase price of assets and liabilities						$ 5,100			$ 41,900	$ 55,000	$ 4,100
Payment of purchase price and transaction cost						4,600			39,800	52,200
Amount retained by the company for hold backs						510			2,100	2,800
Expiration Period of Holdbacks (in months)								18
Bakery-cafe sales, net	397,271	315,231	1,157,375	950,155			26,400
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	28,848	22,797	97,332	75,342			200
Purchase price allocation estimated fair value of inventories						100			400	500
Purchase price allocation estimated fair value of property and equipment						1,300			9,300	19,900	2,300
Purchase price allocation estimated fair value of intangible assets						1,300			23,300	31,200
Purchase price allocation estimated fair value of liabilities						700			1,700	1,200
Purchase price allocation estimated fair value of goodwill						3,100			10,600	4,600	2,300
Secured revolving credit facility outstanding											3,500
Issued noncontrolling interest to Millennium at a fair value											600
Purchase price allocation estimated fair value of current liabilities											500
Percent ownership of PB Biscuits voting shares (as a percent)											28.50%
Purchase of remaining noncontrolling interest											700
De-Identified Bakery Cafes (in stores)					13
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals, Acquisition Costs or Sale Proceeds													100	2,200
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal														$ 600