Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2023	Mar. 26, 2022	Mar. 25, 2023	Mar. 26, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 909,004	$ 954,370	$ 1,536,667	$ 1,615,768
Cost of goods sold	649,366	667,578	1,105,330	1,130,780
Gross profit	259,638	286,792	431,337	484,988
Selling, general and administrative expenses	181,597	179,947	352,890	351,929
Operating income	78,041	106,845	78,447	133,059
Interest expense	(14,876)	(14,729)	(29,345)	(29,211)
Interest income	186	27	879	101
Other income (expense)	595	(369)	2,294	(578)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	63,946	91,774	52,275	103,371
Income tax expense	15,268	21,488	12,446	23,889
Income including noncontrolling interest	48,678	70,286	39,829	79,482
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	563	573	147	760
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ 48,115	$ 69,713	$ 39,682	$ 78,722
Net income per share attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 1.30	$ 0.76	$ 1.47
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.90	$ 1.27	$ 0.74	$ 1.44
Weighted average shares used in the computation of net income per share:
Basic (in shares)	52,443	53,458	52,461	53,475
Diluted (in shares)	53,534	54,722	53,520	54,818