Cover - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2020	Feb. 22, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 29, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-35987
Entity Registrant Name	NOODLES & COMPANY
Entity Central Index Key	0001275158
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-1303469
Entity Address, Address Line One	520 Zang Street, Suite D
Entity Address, City or Town	Broomfield
Entity Address, State or Province	CO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80021
City Area Code	720
Local Phone Number	214-1900
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	NDLS
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 172.2
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		45,357,796
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement relating to its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held on or about April 27, 2021, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, where so indicated. Such proxy statement will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates.