Document and Entity Information Document	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014 Common Class A [Member]	Oct. 31, 2014 Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NOODLES & Co
Entity Central Index Key	0001275158
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		28,267,144	1,522,098