Earnings per share - Schedule of Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 26, 2021	Jun. 27, 2020	Jun. 26, 2021	Jun. 27, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to Driven Brands Holdings Inc.		$ 35,204	$ 3,058	$ 15,265	$ (790)
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Less: Net income attributable to participating securities, basic		755	0	337	0
Net income (loss) after participating securities, basic		$ 34,449	$ 3,058	$ 14,928	$ (790)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	[1]	162,626,000	88,990,000	158,727,000	88,990,000
Loss per share, basic (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 0.21	$ 0.03	$ 0.09	$ (0.01)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Less: Net income attributable to participating securities, diluted		$ 673	$ 0	$ 300	$ 0
Net income (loss) after participating securities, diluted		$ 34,531	$ 3,058	$ 14,965	$ (790)
Dilutive effect of share-based awards		3,886,000	0	3,544,000	0
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, as adjusted (in shares)	[1]	166,512,000	88,990,000	162,271,000	88,990,000
Loss per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 0.21	$ 0.03	$ 0.09	$ (0.01)

[1] Shares and earnings (loss) per share for 2020 have been adjusted to reflect an implied 88,990-for-one stock split that became effective on January 14, 2021. See Note 1 for additional information.