Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 482,828	$ 461,990
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	351,562	331,808
Gross profit	131,266	130,182
Selling, general and administrative expenses	129,201	120,001
Operating income	2,065	10,181
Interest expense	(10,641)	(10,614)
Interest income	2,004	2,537
Other income (expense)	305	(192)
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(6,267)	1,912
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,728)	273
Income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	(4,539)	1,639
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(122)	(164)
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ (4,417)	$ 1,803
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ 0.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ 0.03
Weighted average shares used in the computation of net income (loss) per share:
Basic (in shares)	54,755	56,903
Diluted (in shares)	54,755	58,001