Document and Entity Information - shares	8 Months Ended
	Sep. 12, 2015	Oct. 20, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001403431
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-02
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 12, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		22,316,579