Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 29, 2015	Sep. 27, 2016	Sep. 29, 2015
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 684,206,000	$ 664,654,000	$ 2,068,259,000	$ 1,989,815,000
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Cost of food and paper products	173,239,000	178,700,000	529,684,000	535,281,000
Labor	195,773,000	190,736,000	582,778,000	561,762,000
Occupancy	41,534,000	42,835,000	125,541,000	129,083,000
Other operating expenses	90,492,000	82,706,000	268,211,000	252,150,000
Total bakery-cafe expenses	501,038,000	494,977,000	1,506,214,000	1,478,276,000
Fresh dough and other product cost of sales to franchisees	46,347,000	41,643,000	133,576,000	118,161,000
Depreciation and amortization	38,985,000	33,885,000	114,073,000	100,167,000
General and administrative expenses	43,538,000	37,575,000	130,657,000	103,515,000
Pre-opening expenses	1,948,000	2,298,000	5,584,000	6,253,000
Refranchising loss	129,000	2,174,000	9,072,000	11,732,000
Total costs and expenses	631,985,000	612,552,000	1,899,176,000	1,818,104,000
Operating profit	52,221,000	52,102,000	169,083,000	171,711,000
Interest expense	2,529,000	1,363,000	6,059,000	2,266,000
Other (income) expense, net	411,000	(55,000)	274,000	948,000
Income before income taxes	49,281,000	50,794,000	162,750,000	168,497,000
Income taxes	17,371,000	18,401,000	61,286,000	62,315,000
Net income	31,910,000	32,393,000	101,464,000	106,182,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(65,000)	0	(100,000)	0
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$ 31,975,000	$ 32,393,000	$ 101,564,000	$ 106,182,000
Earnings Per Common Share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.37	$ 1.28	$ 4.29	$ 4.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.37	$ 1.27	$ 4.27	$ 4.07
Weighted average shares of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	23,276	25,394	23,651	26,011
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	23,391	25,501	23,774	26,119
Operating Segments [Member]
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 38,985,000		$ 114,073,000	$ 100,167,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	593,434,000	$ 584,664,000	1,801,502,000	1,756,464,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	38,210,000	33,740,000	114,079,000	98,952,000
Fresh dough and other product sales to franchisees [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 52,562,000	$ 46,250,000	$ 152,678,000	$ 134,399,000