Noncontrolling Interests (Details)	Dec. 29, 2013 Star Papa, LP Restaurant	Dec. 30, 2012 Star Papa, LP Restaurant	Dec. 25, 2011 Star Papa, LP Restaurant	Dec. 29, 2013 Colonel's Limited, LLC Restaurant	Dec. 30, 2012 Colonel's Limited, LLC Restaurant	Dec. 25, 2011 Colonel's Limited, LLC Restaurant	Dec. 29, 2013 PJ Minnesota, LLC Restaurant	Dec. 30, 2012 PJ Minnesota, LLC Restaurant	Jul. 31, 2012 PJ Minnesota, LLC	Dec. 29, 2013 PJ Denver, LLC Restaurant	Dec. 30, 2012 PJ Denver, LLC Restaurant	Sep. 30, 2012 PJ Denver, LLC
Noncontrolling interests
Number of Restaurants	81	78	76	52	52	52	33	30		25	22
Papa John's Ownership	51.00%	51.00%	51.00%	70.00%	70.00%	70.00%	80.00%	80.00%	80.00%	60.00%	60.00%	60.00%
Noncontrolling Interest Ownership	49.00%	49.00%	49.00%	30.00%	30.00%	30.00%	20.00%	20.00%	20.00%	40.00%	40.00%	40.00%