Document and Entity Information Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2017	Aug. 07, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NOODLES & COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0001275158
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-02
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 04, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		39,588,210
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,522,098