Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	$ 2,681,580,000	$ 2,529,195,000	$ 2,385,002,000
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Cost of food and paper products	715,502,000	669,860,000	625,622,000
Labor	754,646,000	685,576,000	625,457,000
Occupancy	169,998,000	159,794,000	148,816,000
Other operating expenses	334,635,000	314,879,000	295,539,000
Total bakery cafe expenses	1,974,781,000	1,830,109,000	1,695,434,000
Fresh dough and other product cost of sales to franchisees	160,706,000	152,267,000	142,160,000
Depreciation and amortization	135,398,000	124,109,000	106,523,000
General and administrative expenses	142,904,000	138,060,000	123,335,000
Pre-opening expenses	9,089,000	8,707,000	7,794,000
Refranchising loss	17,108,000	0	0
Total costs and expenses	2,439,986,000	2,253,252,000	2,075,246,000
Operating profit	241,594,000	275,943,000	309,756,000
Interest expense	3,830,000	1,824,000	1,053,000
Other (income) expense, net	1,192,000	(3,175,000)	(4,017,000)
Income before income taxes	236,572,000	277,294,000	312,720,000
Income taxes	87,247,000	98,001,000	116,551,000
Net Income	149,325,000	179,293,000	196,169,000
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(17,000)	0	0
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$ 149,342,000	$ 179,293,000	$ 196,169,000
Earnings per common share attributable to Panera Bread Company:
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 5.81	$ 6.67	$ 6.85
Earnings Per Share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 5.79	$ 6.64	$ 6.81
Weighted average shares of common and common equivalent outstanding:
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic (in shares)	25,685	26,881	28,629
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted (in shares)	25,788	26,999	28,794
Operating Segments [Member]
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 135,398,000	$ 124,109,000	$ 106,523,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	2,358,794,000	2,230,370,000	2,108,908,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	138,563,000	123,686,000	112,641,000
Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenues:
Revenue, Net	$ 184,223,000	$ 175,139,000	$ 163,453,000