Immaterial Corrections to Prior Period Financial Statements - Consolidated Statement of Income (loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2022	Sep. 26, 2021	Sep. 27, 2020
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income before Income Taxes	$ 795	$ 32,047	$ 2,843
Income tax expense	698	7,255	2,973
Net income (loss)	97	24,792	(130)
(Loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated:	(2,017)	22,745	(1,975)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Inc.	$ (27,551)	$ 84,982	$ 7,089
Earnings per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 3.98	$ (0.35)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 3.90	$ (0.35)
As previously reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income before Income Taxes		$ 32,047	$ 2,843
Income tax expense		7,215	4,104
Net income (loss)		24,832	(1,261)
(Loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated:		22,785	(3,106)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Inc.		$ 85,022	$ 5,958
Earnings per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 3.99	$ (0.55)
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 3.91	$ (0.55)
Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income before Income Taxes		$ 0	$ 0
Income tax expense		40	(1,131)
Net income (loss)		(40)	1,131
(Loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Incorporated:		(40)	1,131
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Lee Enterprises, Inc.		$ (40)	$ 1,131
Earnings per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)	$ 0.20
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.01)	$ 0.20