Foreign Operations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 638,793,000	$ 596,076,000	$ 564,178,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign	11,800,000	10,600,000	9,400,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	269,000	1,226,000	1,113,000
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	1,139,000	1,155,000	1,337,000
Choice Hotels Canada Inc CHC
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	1,500,000	1,300,000	1,100,000
Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	1,100,000	1,200,000	1,200,000
Foreign Operations [Member]
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	54,600,000	46,600,000	41,600,000
Choice Hotels Franchise GmbH CHG
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	2,600,000	2,300,000	2,400,000
Choice Hotels France SAS CHF
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	6,600,000	5,600,000	6,100,000
Choice Hotels Licensing Co BV CHL
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	3,400,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Choice Hotels Australasia Pty Ltd CHA
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	13,900,000	11,300,000	8,700,000
Choice Hotels Canada Inc CHC
Foreign Operations [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 14,000,000	$ 12,300,000	$ 10,600,000