Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Series B Convertible Stock Preferred Stock	Series B Convertible Stock Common Stock	Series B Convertible Stock Additional Paid-in Capital	Series B Convertible Stock Retained Earnings
Stockholders' Equity, Beg at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 83,579	$ 42,055	$ 243	$ 192,214	$ 124,250	$ (282)	$ (274,901)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Beg at Dec. 31, 2010							6,199,908
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beg at Dec. 31, 2010			18,183,083
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beg at Dec. 31, 2010		35,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	75,192				75,192
Other comprehensive loss	(12)					(12)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares			(534,101)				(534,101)
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	(21,170)						(21,170)
Reissuance of treasury stock, shares			(135,230)				(135,230)
Reissuance of treasury stock	4,298			0			4,298
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans, shares			(366,055)
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans	(2,427)		(4)	(2,423)
Repurchase of restricted shares, shares			(91,798)
Repurchase of restricted shares	(5,080)			(5,080)
Stock-based compensation	9,492			9,492
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	6,494			6,494
Conversion of Series B preferred stock, shares								(100)	(1,737)
Conversion of Series B preferred stock	0							120		120	0
Accretion of Series B preferred stock	0							2,573			(2,573)
Stockholders' Equity, End at Dec. 31, 2011	155,220	44,508	247	205,663	196,869	(294)	(291,773)
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2011		34,900
Treasury Stock, Shares, End at Dec. 31, 2011							6,598,779
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2011			18,060,206
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	127,674				127,674
Other comprehensive loss	142					142
Reissuance of treasury stock, shares			(433,732)				(433,732)
Reissuance of treasury stock	7,453			(6,636)			14,089
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans, shares			(59,622)
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans	(1,800)		0	(1,800)
Repurchase of restricted shares, shares			(34,829)
Repurchase of restricted shares	(1,740)			(1,740)
Stock-based compensation	11,442			11,442
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	6,814			6,814
Conversion of Series B preferred stock, shares								(34,900)	(679,168)
Conversion of Series B preferred stock	0							47,006	7	46,999
Accretion of Series B preferred stock	0							2,498			(2,498)
Stockholders' Equity, End at Dec. 31, 2012	308,805	0	254	264,342	322,045	(152)	(277,684)
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2012		0
Treasury Stock, Shares, End at Dec. 31, 2012	6,165,047						6,165,047
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2012	19,197,899		19,197,899
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	72,037
Other comprehensive loss	(12)					(12)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares			(412,022)				(412,022)
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	(29,698)						(29,698)
Reissuance of treasury stock, shares			(318,644)				(318,644)
Reissuance of treasury stock	9,080			(2,612)			11,692
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans, shares			(17,659)
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans	(1)		(1)	0
Repurchase of restricted shares, shares			(45,972)
Repurchase of restricted shares	(3,324)			(3,324)
Stock-based compensation	9,364			9,364
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	3,690			3,690
Dividends on common stock	57,365									139	57,504
Accretion of Series B preferred stock	2,603							0		2,603	0
Stockholders' Equity, End at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 315,179	$ 0	$ 253	$ 274,202	$ 336,578	$ (164)	$ (295,690)
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2013		0
Treasury Stock, Shares, End at Dec. 31, 2013	6,258,425						6,258,425
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2013	19,040,890		19,040,890