Document and Entity Information Document - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 25, 2016	Jan. 31, 2017	Mar. 27, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Lee Enterprises, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000058361
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-24
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 25, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		56,580,750
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 93,233,000