Contractual applicable interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Represents the fixed charge coverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_FixedChargeCoverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The contingent increase above the maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility, if any one or more of the existing banks or new banks agree to provide such increased commitment amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_LineOfCreditFacilityContingentIncreaseAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity in foreign currencies under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityForeignCurrencies
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of quarters included in the interest margin period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_NumberOfQuartersIncludedInInterestMarginPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Ratio of debt to EBITDA.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pzza_RatioOfIndebtednessToEbitda
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments including both interest and principal payments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow in the form of ordinary dividends to common shareholders of the parent entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pzza_CreditAgreementEnteredOnAugust302017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=pzza_ModificationOfFinancialCovenantsBeginningQ32018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=pzza_ModificationOfFinancialCovenantsIn2021AndThereafterMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=pzza_LeverageExceedsMaximumRatioMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=pzza_ModificationOfFinancialCovenantsBy2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=pzza_OptionToIncreaseFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=pzza_CreditFacilitiesBaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pzza_PapaJohnsMarketingFundRevolvingFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=pzza_OneMonthLiborMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt - Credit Agreements (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020 USD ($) item $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2019 USD ($)
Debt
Outstanding debt	$ 365,623		$ 370,000
Quarterly dividend paid per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.225
Dividends paid to common shareholders	$ 7,237	$ 7,125
Debt issuance costs	2,389		2,710
PJI Facilities
Debt
Outstanding debt	$ 365,000
Number of quarters in interest margin period \| item	4
Line of credit facility, remaining availability	$ 343,800
Debt issuance costs	$ 2,400
PJI Facilities \| Minimum \| Modification of financial covenants beginning in the third quarter of 2018
Debt
Fixed charge coverage ratio	2.25
PJI Facilities \| Minimum \| Modification of financial covenants in 2021 and thereafter
Debt
Fixed charge coverage ratio	2.50
PJI Facilities \| Maximum \| Ability to make dividends and distributions based on Leverage Ratio
Debt
Quarterly dividend paid per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.225
Dividends paid to common shareholders	$ 35,000
Leverage Ratio	3.75
PJI Facilities \| Maximum \| Modification of financial covenants beginning in the third quarter of 2018
Debt
Leverage Ratio	5.00
PJI Facilities \| Maximum \| Modification of financial covenants by 2022
Debt
Leverage Ratio	4.00
PJI Facilities \| Maximum \| Option to increase the Revolving Facility or the Term Loan Facility
Debt
Leverage Ratio	4.00
Additional amount that company has option to increase borrowing capacity	$ 300,000
PJI Facilities \| LIBOR \| Minimum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt	1.25%
PJI Facilities \| LIBOR \| Maximum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt	2.50%
PJI Facilities \| Base rate \| Minimum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt	0.25%
PJI Facilities \| Base rate \| Maximum
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt	1.50%
PJMF Revolving Facility
Debt
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 20,000
Outstanding debt	$ 600		$ 0
Applicable interest rate	3.40%	4.50%
PJMF Revolving Facility \| One-month LIBOR
Debt
Interest margin rate on debt	1.75%
Revolving Facility \| PJI Facilities
Debt
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 400,000
Outstanding debt	10,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity of foreign currencies	35,000
Term Loan Facility \| PJI Facilities
Debt
Outstanding debt	355,000
Quarterly amortization payment	$ 5,000