Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 28, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 698,900,000	$ 676,657,000	$ 1,384,053,000	$ 1,325,161,000
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Cost of food and paper products	179,760,000	182,924,000	356,445,000	356,581,000
Labor	195,443,000	189,489,000	387,005,000	371,026,000
Occupancy	42,087,000	43,392,000	84,007,000	86,248,000
Other operating expenses	89,288,000	88,707,000	177,719,000	169,444,000
Total bakery-cafe expenses	506,578,000	504,512,000	1,005,176,000	983,299,000
Fresh dough and other product cost of sales to franchisees	45,011,000	40,252,000	87,229,000	76,518,000
Depreciation and amortization	38,831,000	32,335,000	75,088,000	66,282,000
General and administrative expenses	38,937,000	28,173,000	87,119,000	65,940,000
Pre-opening expenses	1,440,000	2,306,000	3,636,000	3,955,000
Refranchising loss	7,872,000	667,000	8,943,000	9,558,000
Total costs and expenses	638,669,000	608,245,000	1,267,191,000	1,205,552,000
Operating profit	60,231,000	68,412,000	116,862,000	119,609,000
Interest expense	1,791,000	417,000	3,530,000	903,000
Other (income) expense, net	114,000	1,187,000	(137,000)	1,003,000
Income before income taxes	58,326,000	66,808,000	113,469,000	117,703,000
Income taxes	23,770,000	24,879,000	43,915,000	43,914,000
Net income	34,556,000	41,929,000	69,554,000	73,789,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	55,000	0	(35,000)	0
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$ 34,501,000	$ 41,929,000	$ 69,589,000	$ 73,789,000
Earnings Per Common Share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46	$ 1.60	$ 2.92	$ 2.80
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46	$ 1.60	$ 2.90	$ 2.79
Weighted average shares of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	23,569	26,158	23,838	26,319
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	23,702	26,275	23,960	26,423
Operating Segments [Member]
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 38,831,000		$ 75,088,000	$ 66,282,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	609,284,000	$ 598,124,000	1,208,068,000	1,171,800,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	38,017,000	32,819,000	75,869,000	65,212,000
Fresh dough and other product sales to franchisees [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 51,599,000	$ 45,714,000	$ 100,116,000	$ 88,149,000