Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] ASSETS ASSETS [Abstract] Current assets: Current assets: [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Inventories Receivables Prepaid expenses and other current assets Deferred tax assets Total current assets Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $184,606; $175,018 and $173,862, respectively Goodwill Other intangible assets, net Other assets, net Total Assets LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract] Current liabilities: Current liabilities: [Abstract] Accounts payable Accrued expenses Gift cards and customer deposits Deferred revenue Total current liabilities Deferred franchise revenue Deferred rent Other liabilities Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' equity: [Abstract] Preferred stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 15,000,000; No shares issued or outstanding at September 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and October 1, 2011 Common stock, par value $0.01, Shares authorized: 50,000,000; Issued and outstanding: 17,351,904; 17,405,270 and 18,157,318 shares, respectively Additional paid-in capital Accumulated other comprehensive loss Retained earnings Total stockholders' equity Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Accumulated depreciation (in Dollars) Preferred stock, par value (in Dollars per share) Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share) Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares outstanding Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) [Abstract] Revenues: Revenues: [Abstract] Net retail sales Revenue earned during the period from consideration received for transactions with other businesses, mainly through wholesale transactions and licensing of intellectual properties for third-party use. Commercial revenue Franchise fees Total revenues Costs and expenses: Costs and expenses: [Abstract] Cost of merchandise sold Selling, general and administrative Interest expense (income), net Total costs and expenses Income (loss) before income taxes Income tax expense (benefit) Net income (loss) Earnings (loss) per common share: Earnings (loss) per common share: [Abstract] Basic (in Dollars per share) Diluted (in Dollars per share) Shares used in computing common per share amounts: Shares used in computing common per share amounts: [Abstract] Basic (in Shares) Diluted (in Shares) Comprehensive income Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Cash flows from operating activities: [Abstract] Net loss Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Stock-based compensation Deferred taxes Loss from investment in affiliate Excess tax benefit from share-based payments Impairment of store assets Trade credit utilization Loss on disposal of property and equipment Change in assets and liabilities: Change in assets and liabilities: [Abstract] Inventories Receivables Prepaid expenses and other assets Accounts payable and accrued expenses The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the cumulative difference between the rental income or payments required by a lease agreement and the rental income or expense recognized on a straight-line basis, or other systematic and rational basis more representative of the time pattern in which use or benefit is granted or derived from the leased property, expected to be recognized in income or expense, by the lessor or lessee, respectively, more than one year after the balance sheet date. Lease related liabilities Gift cards and customer deposits Deferred revenue Net cash used in operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Cash flows from investing activities: [Abstract] Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of other assets and other intangible assets Purchases of short term investments Proceeds from sale or maturitiy of short term investments Investment in unconsolidated affiliate Cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Cash flows from financing activities: [Abstract] Exercise of employee stock options Excess tax benefit from share-based payments Purchases of Company's common stock Cash used in financing activities Effect of exchange rates on cash Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Note 1 - Basis of Presentation Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Note 2 - Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Table Text Block] Note 3 - Goodwill Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Note 4 - Stock-based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Note 5 - Earnings per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Note 6 - Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Note 7 - Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Note 8 - Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Note 9. Subsequent Event Subsequent Events [Text Block] Significant Accounting Policies (Abstract) Significant Accounting Policies Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block] Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Schedule of Other Assets [Table Text Block] Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block] Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block] Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Abstract] Prepaid rent Prepaid income taxes Short-term investments Other Goodwill Goodwill [Abstract] Balance as of December 31, 2011 Effect of foreign currency translation Balance as of September 29, 2012 Restricted Stock and Stock Options Restricted Stock and Stock Options [Abstract] Award Type [Domain] Outstanding, December 31, 2011 Outstanding, December 31, 2011 Granted Granted Vested Number of share options (or share units) vested during the period. Vested Exercised Exercised Forfeited Forfeited The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were canceled or expired during the reporting period. Canceled or expired Canceled or expired Outstanding, September 29, 2012 Outstanding, September 29, 2012 Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share [Abstract] NUMERATOR: NUMERATOR: [Abstract] Net earnings (loss) before allocation of earnings to participating securities (in Dollars) Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities (in Dollars) Net earnings (loss) after allocation of earnings to participating securities (in Dollars) DENOMINATOR: DENOMINATOR: [Abstract] Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic Dilutive effect of share-based awards: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - dilutive Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. stockholders: (in Dollars per share) Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. stockholders (in Dollars per share) Financial Information for the Company’s Reportable Segments Financial Information for the Company’s Reportable Segments [Abstract] Segment [Domain] Net sales to external customers Income (loss) before income taxes Capital expenditures, net Depreciation and amortization Thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2011 Thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2011 [Abstract] Thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2012 Thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2012 [Abstract] Thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2011 Thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2011 [Abstract] Total Assets as of: Total Assets as of: [Abstract] Total Assets Sales to External Customers and Long-lived Assets by Geographic Area Sales to External Customers and Long-lived Assets by Geographic Area [Abstract] Segment, Geographical [Domain] Property and equipment, net Thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2011 Thirteen weeks ended October 1, 2011 [Abstract]0 Thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2012 Thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2012 [Abstract]0 Thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2011 Thirty-nine weeks ended October 1, 2011 [Abstract]0 Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in Shares) Number of Operating Segments Number of Reportable Segments Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares (in Shares) Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount Scenario [Axis] Business Segments [Axis] Restricted Stock [Member] Geographical [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Stock Options [Member] Award Type [Axis] International Franchising [Member] International Franchising [Member] Europe [Member] Europe [Member] North America [Member] North America [Member] Retail [Member] Retail [Member] Other Geographic Region [Member] Other Geographic Region [Member] Commercial [Member] Commercial [Member] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] SubsequentEventsTextBlockAbstract CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureTextBlockAbstract ComprehensiveIncomeLossNoteTextBlockAbstract DisclosureOfCompensationRelatedCostsShareBasedPaymentsTextBlockAbstract GoodwillDisclosureTextBlockAbstract ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriod ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsCanceledOrExpiredInPeriod DeferredCostsCapitalizedPrepaidAndOtherAssetsDisclosureTableTextBlockAbstract OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlockAbstract EarningsPerShareTextBlockAbstract SegmentReportingDisclosureTextBlockAbstract Liabilities, Current Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercised Interest Income (Expense), Net Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Increase (Decrease) in Gift Card Liability Document Period End Date Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Revenues Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Assets, Current Amendment Flag Subsequent Events [Text Block] Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Entity Central Index Key Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Notes Receivable Excess Tax Benefit (Tax Deficiency) from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block] Payments to Acquire Short-term Investments Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period Number of Operating Segments Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Entity Filer Category Document Fiscal Year Focus Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount Excess Tax Benefit (Tax Deficiency) from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Entity Public Float Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Table Text Block] Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Entity Voluntary Filers Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares Liabilities and Equity Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period Other Noncash Income (Expense) Entity Current Reporting Status Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value Entity Registrant Name Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Costs and Expenses Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Amendment Description Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Document Type Schedule of Other Assets [Table Text Block] Number of Reportable Segments Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] Current Fiscal Year End Date Increase (Decrease) in Retail Related Inventories Document Fiscal Period Focus Disclosure of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table Text Block] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items]