Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid–in Capital	Retained Earnings	Total Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		22,300,007
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 198,269	$ 223	$ 185,099	$ 12,227	$ 197,549	$ 720
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	28,410			28,123	28,123	287
Distribution	(309)					(309)
Issuance of common stock – ESPP (in shares)		26,153
Issuance of common stock – ESPP	402		402		402
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		491,619
Exercise of stock options	5,464	$ 5	5,459		5,464
Share-based compensation (in shares)		73,895
Share-based compensation	2,681	$ 1	2,680		2,681
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2017		22,891,674
Share repurchases to satisfy tax withholding obligations at Dec. 30, 2017	235,926	$ 229	193,640	41,359	235,228	698
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	15,038			14,728	14,728	310
Distribution	(360)					(360)
Issuance of common stock – ESPP (in shares)		20,764
Issuance of common stock – ESPP	$ 422		422		422
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	16,675	16,675
Exercise of stock options	$ 122		122		122
Share-based compensation (in shares)		129,471
Share-based compensation	4,381	$ 2	4,379		4,381
Share repurchases to satisfy tax withholding obligations	$ (1,030)		(1,030)		(1,030)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2018	23,058,584	23,058,584
Share repurchases to satisfy tax withholding obligations at Dec. 29, 2018	$ 254,231	$ 231	197,533	55,819	253,583	648
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	8,749			8,363	8,363	386
Distribution	(400)					(400)
Issuance of common stock – ESPP (in shares)		19,677
Issuance of common stock – ESPP	$ 483		483		483
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	2,760	2,760
Exercise of stock options	$ 20		20		20
Share-based compensation (in shares)		110,477
Share-based compensation	3,976	$ 1	3,975		3,976
Share repurchases to satisfy tax withholding obligations	$ (1,428)		(1,428)		(1,428)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2019	23,191,498	23,191,498
Share repurchases to satisfy tax withholding obligations at Dec. 28, 2019	$ 265,631	$ 232	$ 200,583	$ 64,182	$ 264,997	$ 634