Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

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

v3.5.0.2
Earnings Per Share - Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jun. 25, 2016
Jun. 27, 2015
Jun. 25, 2016
Jun. 27, 2015
Basic EPS:        
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 26,030 $ 18,800 $ 50,125 $ 36,340
Weighted average shares, basic 49,120 48,167 48,801 48,642
Earnings per share, basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.53 $ 0.39 $ 1.03 $ 0.75
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]        
Net income available to common shareholders $ 26,030 $ 18,800 $ 50,125 $ 36,340
Weighted average shares, diluted 51,063 49,290 50,743 49,496
Earnings per share, diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.51 $ 0.38 $ 0.99 $ 0.73
Options to purchase common stock        
Effect of dilutive securities:        
Effective of dilutive securities, in shares 1,211 538 1,201 309
Effect of dilutive securities (in dollars per share) $ (0.01) $ 0.00 $ (0.03) $ (0.01)
Restricted shares        
Effect of dilutive securities:        
Effective of dilutive securities, in shares 732 585 741 545
Effect of dilutive securities (in dollars per share) $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.01) $ (0.01)