Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2012	Nov. 15, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 27, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
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	--02-02
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		42,311,202