Document and Entity Information Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2016	Oct. 31, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NOODLES & COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0001275158
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-03
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 27, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		26,341,763
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,522,098