Schedule of Error Corrections for Consolidating Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income to Present Results for Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Net income (loss)	$ (5,693)	$ (12,812)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(6,255)	(12,727)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(6,259)	(12,623)
Parent [Member]
Net income (loss)	(5,697)	(12,708)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(6,259)	(12,708)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(6,259)	(12,708)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net income (loss)	(824)	(731)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(1,169)	(646)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(1,173)	(542)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net income (loss)	6,502	147
Total comprehensive income (loss)	6,398	147
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	6,398	147
Eliminations [Member]
Net income (loss)	(5,674)	480
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(5,225)	480
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(5,225)	480
As Previously Reported [Member]
Net income (loss)		(12,812)
Total comprehensive income (loss)		(12,727)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		(12,623)
As Previously Reported [Member] | Parent [Member]
Net income (loss)		(12,704)
Total comprehensive income (loss)		(12,619)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		(12,515)
As Previously Reported [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net income (loss)		0
Total comprehensive income (loss)		0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		0
As Previously Reported [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net income (loss)		(108)
Total comprehensive income (loss)		(108)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		(108)
As Previously Reported [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Net income (loss)		0
Total comprehensive income (loss)		0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		0
Adjustments [Member]
Net income (loss)		0
Total comprehensive income (loss)		0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		0
Adjustments [Member] | Parent [Member]
Net income (loss)		(4)
Total comprehensive income (loss)		(89)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		(193)
Adjustments [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net income (loss)		(731)
Total comprehensive income (loss)		(646)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		(542)
Adjustments [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net income (loss)		255
Total comprehensive income (loss)		255
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		255
Adjustments [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Net income (loss)		480
Total comprehensive income (loss)		480
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company		$ 480