Consolidating Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Based on Company's Understanding of SEC's Interpretation (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 28, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 23,980us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 21,489us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 18,287us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 8,677us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on securities	(20)	0	(10)	0
Reclassification of realized loss on securities included in net income	20	0	20	0
Foreign currency translation	(626)	2	(1,178)	87
Total comprehensive income (loss)	23,354	21,491	17,119	8,764
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	743	594	747	490
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	22,611us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	20,897us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	16,372us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	8,274us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	23,237	20,895	17,540	8,187
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on securities	(20)		(10)
Reclassification of realized loss on securities included in net income	20		20
Foreign currency translation	(626)	0	(1,178)	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	22,611	20,895	16,372	8,187
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	22,611	20,895	16,372	8,187
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	1,537	1,911	713	1,180
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on securities	0		0
Reclassification of realized loss on securities included in net income	0		0
Foreign currency translation	(355)	2	(700)	87
Total comprehensive income (loss)	1,182	1,913	13	1,267
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	743	594	747	490
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	439	1,319	(734)	777
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	28,757	23,436	35,259	23,583
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on securities	0		0
Reclassification of realized loss on securities included in net income	0		0
Foreign currency translation	(164)	0	(268)	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	28,593	23,436	34,991	23,583
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	28,593	23,436	34,991	23,583
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(29,551)	(24,753)	(35,225)	(24,273)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized loss on securities	0		0
Reclassification of realized loss on securities included in net income	0		0
Foreign currency translation	519	0	968	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(29,032)	(24,753)	(34,257)	(24,273)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ (29,032)	$ (24,753)	$ (34,257)	$ (24,273)

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