Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 27, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

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

	For the fiscal year ended
	December 27, 2016		December 29, 2015		December 30, 2014
Amounts used for basic and diluted per share calculations:
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$	145,574	$	149,342	$	179,293
Weighted average number of shares outstanding — basic	23,444		25,685		26,881
Effect of dilutive stock-based employee compensation awards	121		103		118
Weighted average number of shares outstanding — diluted	23,565		25,788		26,999
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	6.21	$	5.81	$	6.67
Diluted	$	6.18	$	5.79	$	6.64