Name:	pzza_CashDividendsAndStockSplitAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The total amount of common stock dividends paid to preferred shareholders.

No definition available.

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

Dividends paid to preferred stockholders on preferred stock during the period.

No definition available.

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

Dividends paid and unpaid in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

No definition available.

Name:	pzza_DividendsRecorded
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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

No definition available.

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

The percent of increase in dividend rate per common share.

No definition available.

Name:	pzza_PercentOfIncreaseInDividendRatePerCommonShare
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The previous amount of annual dividends declared amount per share.

No definition available.

Name:	pzza_PreviousAnnualDividendsDeclaredAmountPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	pzza_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

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

Amount of paid and unpaid common stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in cash, stock and payment-in-kind (PIK).

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=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 405
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957935&loc=d3e64057-112817

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

The per share amount of a dividend declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121583591&loc=d3e4304-108586

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

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=121586364&loc=d3e3291-108585

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

The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on preferred stock.

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

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

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=pzza_ShareRepurchaseAgreementStarboardValueLpAndAffiliatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: