Long-Term Debt Debt Balances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2017	Jun. 28, 2015	Oct. 01, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt	$ 75,000	$ 200,000
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs
Carrols Restaurant Group Senior Secured Second Lien Notes	275,000		275,000	$ 200,000
Senior Credit Facility - Revolving credit borrowings	0		0	13,500
Capital leases	6,071		6,071	7,039
Long-term Debt	281,071		281,071	220,539
Less: current portion	(1,757)		(1,757)	(1,616)
Less: deferred financing costs	(5,018)		(5,018)	(3,815)
Add: bond premium	4,636		4,636	0
Long-term debt, net of current portion	$ 278,932		278,932	$ 215,108
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease), Other, Net
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt premium.

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Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Amount of increase (decrease), classified as other, of the credit facility.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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The cash outflow paid to third parties in connection with debt origination, which will be amortized over the remaining maturity period of the associated long-term debt.

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The cash inflow from additional borrowings, net of cash paid to third parties in connection with debt origination.

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The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

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Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

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