Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2011	Nov. 16, 2011
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 29, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	HOTT
Entity Registrant Name	HOT TOPIC INC /CA/
Entity Central Index Key	0001017712
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		42,247,381

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