Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 685,153,000	$ 648,504,000
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Cost of food and paper products	176,685,000	173,657,000
Labor	191,562,000	181,537,000
Occupancy	41,920,000	42,856,000
Other operating expenses	88,431,000	80,737,000
Total bakery-cafe expenses	498,598,000	478,787,000
Fresh dough and other product cost of sales to franchisees	42,218,000	36,266,000
Depreciation and amortization	36,257,000	33,947,000
General and administrative expenses	48,182,000	37,767,000
Pre-opening expenses	2,196,000	1,649,000
Refranchising loss	1,071,000	8,891,000
Total costs and expenses	628,522,000	597,307,000
Operating profit	56,631,000	51,197,000
Interest expense	1,739,000	486,000
Other (income) expense, net	(251,000)	(184,000)
Income before income taxes	55,143,000	50,895,000
Income taxes	20,145,000	19,035,000
Net income	34,998,000	31,860,000
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(90,000)	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	569,000	(1,025,000)
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$ 35,088,000	$ 31,860,000
Earnings Per Common Share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46	$ 1.20
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.45	$ 1.20
Weighted average shares of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	24,105	26,478
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	24,214	26,569
Operating Segments [Member]
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 36,257,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	598,784,000	$ 573,676,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	37,852,000	32,393,000
Fresh dough and other product sales to franchisees [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 48,517,000	$ 42,435,000