Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock
Stockholders' Equity, Beg at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 308,805	$ 254	$ 264,342	$ 322,045	$ (152)	$ (277,684)
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beg at Dec. 31, 2012		19,197,899
Treasury Stock, Shares, Beg at Dec. 31, 2012						6,165,047
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	72,037			72,037
Other comprehensive loss	(12)				(12)
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 for taxes	(3,324)		(3,324)
Stock-based compensation	9,364		9,364
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	3,690		3,690
Conversion of liability award to equity				0
Purchase of DineEquity common stock, shares		(412,022)				(412,022)
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	(29,698)					$ (29,698)
Dividends on common stock	(57,365)		139	(57,504)
Conversion of liability award to equity	2,603		2,603
Treasury Stock, Shares, End at Dec. 31, 2013						6,258,425
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2013		19,040,890
Stockholders' Equity, End at Dec. 31, 2013	315,179	$ 253	274,202	336,578	(164)	$ (295,690)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	36,453			36,453
Other comprehensive loss	91				91
Reissuance of Treasury Stock, Shares		(359,528)				(359,528)
Reissuance of treasury stock	(8,207)		(4,793)			$ (13,000)
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans, shares		(20,767)
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans	0	$ (1)	1
Repurchase of restricted shares, shares		(38,493)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(3,194)		(3,194)
Stock-based compensation	9,319		9,319
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	4,316		4,316
Purchase of DineEquity common stock, shares		(387,591)				(387,591)
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	(32,006)					$ (32,006)
Dividends on common stock	$ (59,292)		95	(59,387)
Treasury Stock, Shares, End at Dec. 31, 2014	6,286,488					6,286,488
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2014	18,953,567	18,953,567
Stockholders' Equity, End at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 279,073	$ 252	279,946	313,644	(73)	$ (314,696)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	104,923			104,923
Other comprehensive loss	(34)				(34)
Reissuance of Treasury Stock, Shares		(356,930)				(356,930)
Reissuance of treasury stock	(9,536)		(3,377)			$ (12,913)
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans, shares		(21,133)
Net issuance of shares pursuant to stock plans	0	$ 0	0
Repurchase of restricted shares, shares		(32,874)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(3,499)		(3,499)
Stock-based compensation	8,892		8,892
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	4,862		4,862
Purchase of DineEquity common stock, shares		(721,463)				(721,463)
Purchase of DineEquity common stock	(70,014)					$ (70,014)
Dividends on common stock	$ (66,516)		128	(66,644)
Treasury Stock, Shares, End at Dec. 31, 2015	6,651,021					6,651,021
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, End at Dec. 31, 2015	18,535,027	18,535,027
Stockholders' Equity, End at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 267,223	$ 252	$ 286,952	$ 351,923	$ (107)	$ (371,797)