Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2017	Mar. 29, 2016
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 727,633,000	$ 685,153,000
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Cost of food and paper products	180,892,000	176,685,000
Labor	212,453,000	191,562,000
Occupancy	42,795,000	41,920,000
Other operating expenses	84,899,000	88,431,000
Total bakery-cafe expenses	521,039,000	498,598,000
Fresh dough and other product cost of sales to franchisees	43,925,000	42,218,000
Depreciation and amortization	40,555,000	36,257,000
General and administrative expenses	49,241,000	48,182,000
Pre-opening expenses	1,367,000	2,196,000
Refranchising loss	0	1,071,000
Total costs and expenses	656,127,000	628,522,000
Operating profit	71,506,000	56,631,000
Interest expense	3,117,000	1,739,000
Other (income) expense, net	2,782,000	(251,000)
Income before income taxes	65,607,000	55,143,000
Income taxes	23,439,000	20,145,000
Net income	42,168,000	34,998,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(326,000)	(90,000)
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$ 42,494,000	$ 35,088,000
Earnings Per Common Share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.89	$ 1.46
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.88	$ 1.45
Weighted average shares of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	22,488	24,105
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	22,624	24,214
Operating Segments [Member]
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 40,555,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	636,012,000	$ 598,784,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	40,369,000	37,852,000
Fresh dough and other product sales to franchisees [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 51,252,000	$ 48,517,000