Significant Accounting Policies - Subsequent Events - Narrative (Detail) (Subsequent Events [Member], USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended
Aug. 02, 2013	Jul. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Quarterly dividend declared, per share	$ 0.25
Quarterly dividend, date of declaration	Aug. 02, 2013
Quarterly dividend, date of record	Sep. 06, 2013
Quarterly dividend, date of distribution	Sep. 20, 2013
Termination of interest rate swap		$ 50
Interest rate swap		$ 75

Interest Rate Swap Contract

No definition available.

Name:	pzza_InterestRateSwapContract
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest Rate Swaps Terminated

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_InterestRateSwapsTerminated
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the declared dividend will be paid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendPayableDateToBePaidDayMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The per share amount of a dividend declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 32

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the dividend to be paid was declared, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the holder must own the stock to be entitled to the dividend, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableDateOfRecordDayMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration