Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Earnings Per Share - Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted (Details)

v3.4.0.3
Earnings Per Share - Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 26, 2016
Mar. 28, 2015
Mar. 26, 2016
Mar. 28, 2015
Basic EPS:        
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 32,697 $ 23,237 $ 24,095 $ 17,540
Weighted average shares, basic 48,717 48,384 48,641 48,882
Earnings per share, basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.67 $ 0.48 $ 0.50 $ 0.36
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]        
Net income available to common shareholders $ 32,697 $ 23,237 $ 24,095 $ 17,540
Weighted average shares, diluted 50,445 49,439 50,558 49,689
Earnings per share, diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.65 $ 0.47 $ 0.48 $ 0.35
Options to purchase common stock        
Effect of dilutive securities:        
Effective of dilutive securities, in shares 976 457 1,166 251
Effect of dilutive securities (in dollars per share) $ (0.01) $ 0.00 $ (0.02) $ 0.00
Restricted shares        
Effect of dilutive securities:        
Effective of dilutive securities, in shares 752 598 751 556
Effect of dilutive securities (in dollars per share) $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ 0.00 $ (0.01)