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Business Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2014
Dec. 27, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Dec. 27, 2014
Sep. 29, 2012
Jun. 16, 2014
Apr. 01, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Contingent Consideration Local Currency   $ 5,000,000crl_ContingentConsiderationLocalCurrency     $ 5,000,000crl_ContingentConsiderationLocalCurrency      
Contingent Consideration USD   6,100,000crl_ContingentConsiderationUSD     6,100,000crl_ContingentConsiderationUSD      
Acquisition of businesses and assets, net of cash acquired   234,267,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired 29,218,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired 16,861,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired        
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent   75.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent     75.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent      
Redeemable noncontrolling interest percentage to acquire   25.00%crl_Redeemablenoncontrollinginterestpercentagetoacquire     25.00%crl_Redeemablenoncontrollinginterestpercentagetoacquire      
Goodwill   321,077,000us-gaap_Goodwill 230,701,000us-gaap_Goodwill 208,609,000us-gaap_Goodwill 321,077,000us-gaap_Goodwill      
Transaction Costs   5,300,000crl_TransactionCosts            
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment 3651              
Vital River [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]  
The breakout of definite-lived intangible assets acquired is as follows:
 
January 4, 2013
 
Weighted average
amortization life
 
(in thousands)
 
(in years)
Client relationships
$
14,741

 
12
Reacquired rights
2,053

 
1
Other intangible assets
160

 
3
Total definite-lived intangible assets
$
16,954

 
 
            
Cash Acquired from Acquisition     2,671,000us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		          
Purchase price allocation, current assets   3,092,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     3,092,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Purchase price allocation, property, plant, and equipment   10,468,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     10,468,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Purchase price allocation, other noncurrent assets   2,242,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     2,242,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Goodwill   16,989,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     16,989,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Purchase price allocation, current liabilities   (11,303,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     (11,303,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Purchase price allocation, noncurrent liabilities   (5,260,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     (5,260,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Purchase price allocation, redeemable noncontrolling interest   (8,963,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedContingentLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     (8,963,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedContingentLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Purchase price allocation, total   24,219,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     24,219,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Definite-lived intangible assets   16,954,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		            
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles   16,954,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		     16,954,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember		      
Early Discovery UK [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability   300,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     300,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Contingent Consideration USD   2,000,000crl_ContingentConsiderationUSD
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     2,000,000crl_ContingentConsiderationUSD
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Acquisition of businesses and assets, net of cash acquired   52,100,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		            
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities   52,073,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     52,073,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross   59,300,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		            
Cash Acquired from Acquisition   7,200,000us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		            
Purchase price allocation, current assets   4,648,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     4,648,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Purchase price allocation, property, plant, and equipment   1,579,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     1,579,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Goodwill   34,927,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     34,927,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Purchase price allocation, current liabilities   (3,515,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     (3,515,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt   (9,486,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     (9,486,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Definite-lived intangible assets   23,920,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		            
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles   23,920,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		     23,920,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
Transaction Costs         1,100,000crl_TransactionCosts
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember		      
EMD Singapore [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross     4,934,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		          
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired     100.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		          
Purchase price allocation, current assets   300,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		     300,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		      
Purchase price allocation, property, plant, and equipment   154,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		     154,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		      
Goodwill   2,659,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		     2,659,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		      
Purchase price allocation, current liabilities   (64,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		     (64,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		      
Purchase price allocation, total   4,934,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		     4,934,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		      
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   8 years            
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles   1,885,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		     1,885,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember		      
Accugenix [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]  
The definite-lived intangible assets acquired are as follows:
 
August 24, 2012
 
Weighted average
amortization life
 
(in thousands)
 
(in years)
Client relationships
$
1,500

 
13
Propriety database
4,100

 
11
Standard operating procedures
2,500

 
4
Trademarks
300

 
12
Total definite-lived intangible assets
$
8,400

 
 

            
Acquisition of businesses and assets, net of cash acquired   16,861,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		            
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross           18,408,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		    
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired       100.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		        
Cash Acquired from Acquisition       1,547,000us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		        
Purchase price allocation, current assets   2,162,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		     2,162,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		      
Purchase price allocation, property, plant, and equipment   549,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		     549,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		      
Goodwill   10,361,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		     10,361,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		      
Purchase price allocation, current liabilities   (911,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		     (911,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		      
Purchase price allocation, noncurrent liabilities   (3,700,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		     (3,700,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		      
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles   8,400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		     8,400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember		      
VivoPath [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability             1,567,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VivoPathMember		  
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High             2,400,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VivoPathMember		  
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross 2,267,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VivoPathMember		              
Early Discovery UK [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets   31,257,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     31,257,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability               1,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember
Acquisition of businesses and assets, net of cash acquired   183,100,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		            
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities   183,142,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     183,142,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross 191,349,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		              
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired               100.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember
Cash Acquired from Acquisition   8,200,000us-gaap_CashAcquiredFromAcquisition
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		            
Purchase price allocation, property, plant, and equipment   21,008,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     21,008,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Purchase price allocation, other noncurrent assets   11,549,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     11,549,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Goodwill   66,330,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     66,330,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Purchase price allocation, current liabilities   (14,299,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     (14,299,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt   (36,973,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     (36,973,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles   104,270,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		     104,270,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember		      
Client relationships                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   13 years            
Client relationships | Vital River [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   14,741,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember		            
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   12 years            
Client relationships | Early Discovery UK [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   19,000,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember		            
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   13 years            
Client relationships | EMD Singapore [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   1,870,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember		            
Client relationships | Accugenix [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   1,500,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_AccugenixMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember		            
Client relationships | Early Discovery UK [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   94,000,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember		            
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   18 years            
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Vital River [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   160,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_VitalRiverMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember		            
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   3 years            
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Early Discovery UK [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   4,920,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_ChanTestMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember		            
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   9 years            
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | EMD Singapore [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   15,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EMDSingaporeMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember		            
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   2 years            
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Early Discovery UK [Member]                
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                
Definite-lived intangible assets   $ 2,400,000us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= crl_EarlyDiscoveryUKMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember		            
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life   19 years