Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended
	Sep. 10, 2016	Sep. 12, 2015	Sep. 10, 2016	Sep. 12, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 2,411	$ 2,755	$ 2,516	$ 3,853
Less: Income attributable to noncontrolling interest	76	46	117	115
Net income attributable to Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. common stockholders	$ 2,335	$ 2,709	$ 2,399	$ 3,738
Weighted average basic shares outstanding (in shares)	22,267	22,153	22,246	22,136
Dilutive shares from share–based compensation plans (in shares)	283	285	171	269
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	22,550	22,438	22,417	22,405
Net income per share: basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ 0.17
Net income per share: diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ 0.17