Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 29, 2015

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

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

	For the fiscal year ended
	December 29, 2015		December 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
Amounts used for basic and diluted per share calculations:
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$	149,342	$	179,293	$	196,169
Weighted average number of shares outstanding — basic	25,685		26,881		28,629
Effect of dilutive stock-based employee compensation awards	103		118		165
Weighted average number of shares outstanding — diluted	25,788		26,999		28,794
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	5.81	$	6.67	$	6.85
Diluted	$	5.79	$	6.64	$	6.81