Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2016	Dec. 29, 2015	Dec. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Total revenue	$ 2,795,365,000	$ 2,681,580,000	$ 2,529,195,000
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Cost of food and paper products	709,251,000	715,502,000	669,860,000
Labor	790,238,000	754,646,000	685,576,000
Occupancy	167,717,000	169,998,000	159,794,000
Other operating expenses	359,609,000	334,635,000	314,879,000
Total bakery cafe expenses	2,026,815,000	1,974,781,000	1,830,109,000
Fresh dough and other product cost of sales to franchisees	178,585,000	160,706,000	152,267,000
Depreciation and amortization	154,355,000	135,398,000	124,109,000
General and administrative expenses	179,876,000	142,904,000	138,060,000
Pre-opening expenses	6,899,000	9,089,000	8,707,000
Refranchising loss	9,072,000	17,108,000	0
Total costs and expenses	2,555,602,000	2,439,986,000	2,253,252,000
Operating profit	239,763,000	241,594,000	275,943,000
Interest expense	8,884,000	3,830,000	1,824,000
Other (income) expense, net	1,380,000	1,192,000	(3,175,000)
Income before income taxes	229,499,000	236,572,000	277,294,000
Income taxes	84,258,000	87,247,000	98,001,000
Net Income	145,241,000	149,325,000	179,293,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(333,000)	(17,000)	0
Net income attributable to Panera Bread Company	$ 145,574,000	$ 149,342,000	$ 179,293,000
Earnings per common share attributable to Panera Bread Company:
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 6.21	$ 5.81	$ 6.67
Earnings Per Share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 6.18	$ 5.79	$ 6.64
Weighted average shares of common and common equivalent outstanding:
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic (in shares)	23,444	25,685	26,881
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted (in shares)	23,565	25,788	26,999
Operating Segments [Member]
Bakery-cafe expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	$ 154,355,000	$ 135,398,000	$ 124,109,000
Company Bakery Cafe Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenue	2,433,945,000	2,358,794,000	2,230,370,000
Franchise Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenue	155,271,000	138,563,000	123,686,000
Fresh dough and other product operations [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenue	$ 206,149,000	$ 184,223,000	$ 175,139,000