Note 6 - Computation Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2016	Apr. 04, 2015
Net income before allocation of earnings to participating securities	$ 3,518	$ 6,822
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities	73	161
Net income after allocation of earnings to participating securities	$ 3,445	$ 6,661
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	15,410,699	16,399,397
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)	181,648	271,943
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - dilutive (in shares)	15,592,347	16,671,340
Basic income per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. stockholders: (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.41
Diluted income per common share attributable to Build-A-Bear orkshop, Inc. stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.40

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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