Employee Benefit Plans (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Employee Benefit Plans
Deferred compensation plan assets, noncurrent	$ 18,200,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets	$ 16,800,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
Deferred compensation liability classified, noncurrent	17,599,000	15,798,000
Employer discretionary matching contribution made to 401(k) plan and non-qualified deferred compensation plan, percentage	1.50%	1.50%	1.50%
Maximum employee contribution percentage eligible for employer match	6.00%	6.00%	6.00%
Costs of 401(k) plan and non-qualified deferred compensation plan	734,000	691,000	630,000
Reporting unit of the subsidiary located in the United Kingdom ("PJUK")
Employee Benefit Plans
Number of pension plan participants	10
Pension expense	$ 174,000	$ 60,000	$ 154,000

Percentage of discretionary contributions made by an employer to a defined contribution plan.

No definition available.

Name:	pzza_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerContributionPercentageMatchOfCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum employee contribution percentage that is eligible for an employer match.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_MaximumEmployeeContributionPercentageEligibleForEmployerMatch
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of active members in Pension Fund.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_NumberOfActiveMembersInPensionFund
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for all deferred compensation arrangements payable beyond one year (or the operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationLiabilityClassifiedNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of assets held under deferred compensation agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 17

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of pension benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans and (2) defined contribution plans. For defined benefit plans, pension expense includes the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss) on plan assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) due to settlements or curtailments. For defined contribution plans, the pension expense generally equals the firm's contribution to employees' accounts (if the firm contributes) during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (h)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PensionExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=pzza_UnitedKingdomSubsidiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: