Note 1 - Organization	3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	1. Organization Nature of Business Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (Natural Grocers or the holding company) and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) operate retail stores that specialize in natural and organic groceries, dietary supplements and body care products. The Company operated 167 and 165 stores as of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively, in 21 states. The Company also has a bulk food repackaging facility and distribution center in Golden, Colorado.

The entire disclosure for the nature of an entity's business, major products or services, principal markets including location, and the relative importance of its operations in each business and the basis for the determination, including but not limited to, assets, revenues, or earnings. For an entity that has not commenced principal operations, disclosures about the risks and uncertainties related to the activities in which the entity is currently engaged and an understanding of what those activities are being directed toward.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//275/tableOfContent

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 275
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482861/275-10-50-1

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