Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2011	Oct. 17, 2011
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	CHARLES RIVER LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001100682
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 24, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-25
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		49,440,569
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3

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