Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2011
Entity Registrant Name	CENTER BANCORP INC
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Central Index Key	0000712771
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,290,700