Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 27, 2011

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

	For the fiscal year ended
	December 27, 2011		December 28, 2010		December 29, 2009
Amounts used for basic and diluted per share calculations:
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$	135,952	$	111,866	$	86,050
Weighted average number of shares outstanding — basic	29,601		30,614		30,667
Effect of dilutive stock-based employee compensation awards	302		308		312
Weighted average number of shares outstanding — diluted	29,903		30,922		30,979
Earnings per common share attributable to Panera Bread Company:
Basic	$	4.59	$	3.65	$	2.81
Diluted	$	4.55	$	3.62	$	2.78