Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2015	Jan. 29, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 26, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	CENT
Entity Registrant Name	CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000887733
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-24
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,908,317
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		36,592,397
Class B Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,652,262