Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	May. 10, 2016
Entity Registrant Name	RCM TECHNOLOGIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000700841
Trading Symbol	rcmt
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-02
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		12,358,810
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Apr. 02, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false