Document and Entity Information Document - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2015	Jan. 31, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Lee Enterprises, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000058361
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-25
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 27, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,530,574
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 156,747,000