Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2016	Nov. 18, 2016	Mar. 26, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 24, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	CENT
Entity Registrant Name	CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000887733
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-26
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 156.0
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,998,472
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		37,463,554
Entity Public Float			515.0
Class B Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,652,262
Entity Public Float			$ 0.1