Business Segment Data - Financial Information Relating to Company's Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 23, 2012	Mar. 24, 2012	Dec. 24, 2011	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 368,837	$ 494,130	$ 498,169	$ 292,497	$ 397,236	$ 533,808	$ 466,903	$ 302,066	$ 1,653,633	$ 1,700,013	$ 1,628,652
Income (loss) from operations
Income from operations									40,155	74,421	85,175
Interest expense									(43,112)	(40,315)	(38,044)
Interest income									142	145	296
Other income (expense)									(677)	678	550
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest									(3,492)	34,929	47,977
Income tax expense (benefit)									(2,592)	12,816	19,595
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest									(900)	22,113	28,382
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,029	940	59
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(22,581)	13,725	22,196	(15,269)	(10,059)	22,699	21,623	(13,090)	(1,929)	21,173	28,323
Assets:
Assets	1,161,160				1,149,547				1,161,160	1,149,547	1,093,003
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									32,968	30,425	28,566
Expenditures for long-lived assets:
Expenditures for long-lived assets									25,172	39,592	31,563
Operating Segments [Member] | Pet Segment [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales									888,228	930,753	851,307
Income (loss) from operations
Income from operations									95,451	87,650	77,623
Assets:
Assets	425,988				411,059				425,988	411,059	396,637
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									15,753	14,507	14,479
Expenditures for long-lived assets:
Expenditures for long-lived assets									9,694	15,540	9,953
Operating Segments [Member] | Garden Segment [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales									765,405	769,260	777,345
Income (loss) from operations
Income from operations										40,376	50,013
Assets:
Assets	388,581				341,716				388,581	341,716	350,234
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									6,410	6,213	5,986
Expenditures for long-lived assets:
Expenditures for long-lived assets									7,496	4,138	5,902
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Income (loss) from operations
Income from operations									(63,582)	(53,605)	(42,461)
Assets:
Assets	346,591				396,772				346,591	396,772	346,132
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									10,805	9,705	8,101
Expenditures for long-lived assets:
Expenditures for long-lived assets									$ 7,982	$ 19,914	$ 15,708