Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 24, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 442,011	$ 419,498
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	310,174	298,820
Gross profit	131,837	120,678
Selling, general and administrative expenses	109,316	100,740
Operating income	22,521	19,938
Interest expense	(7,405)	(6,873)
Interest income	187	38
Other expense	(3,089)	(967)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	12,214	12,136
Income tax (benefit) expense	(14,236)	4,347
Income including noncontrolling interest	26,450	7,789
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	203	152
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ 26,247	$ 7,637
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.15
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.15
Weighted average shares used in the computation of net income per share:
Basic (in shares)	50,730	49,665
Diluted (in shares)	52,695	51,810