Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	CNBKA
Entity Registrant Name	CENTURY BANCORP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000812348
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,603,729
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,964,180