SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	3 Months Ended
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	Mar. 28, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Financial Statement Preparation	Financial Statement Preparation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements (“financial statements”) of TrueBlue, Inc. (the "Company", "we", "us", "our", and "TrueBlue") are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial information and rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures usually found in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The financial statements reflect all adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to fairly state the financial statements for the interim periods presented. We follow the same accounting policies for preparing both quarterly and annual financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2013. The results of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or for any other fiscal period.
Goodwill and intangible assets	Goodwill and intangible assets We have historically evaluated our goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level annually as of the last day of our fiscal third quarter or when indications of potential impairment exist. In the first quarter of 2014, we changed the date of our annual assessment of goodwill impairment to the first day of our fiscal second quarter of each year. This is a change in method of applying an accounting principle, which management believes is preferable because it better aligns the timing of the assessment with our planning and forecasting process and alleviates constraints on accounting resources during our periodic reporting process. The change in the assessment date does not delay, accelerate, or avoid a potential impairment charge. Due to significant judgments and estimates utilized in our goodwill impairment analysis, management has determined that it is impracticable to objectively determine projected cash flows and related valuation estimates that would have been used as of the first day of the second quarter of each prior reporting period without the use of hindsight. As such, we will prospectively apply the change in annual goodwill impairment testing date beginning the first day of our fiscal second quarter of 2014.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards Effective December 28, 2013, we adopted the accounting standard regarding the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The standard requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except to the extent when, for certain reasons, it is not available. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements. Effective December 28, 2013, we early adopted the accounting standard regarding reporting discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity. The standard raises the threshold for dispositions to qualify as discontinued operations to components that have been disposed of or are classified as held for sale and represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a significant effect on an entity's operations and financial results. The standard states that a strategic shift could include a disposal of (i) a major geographical area of operations, (ii) a major line of business, (iii) equity method investment, or (iv) other major parts of an entity. The standard no longer precludes presentation as a discontinued operation if (i) there are operations and cash flows of the component that have not been eliminated from the reporting entity's ongoing operations, or (ii) there is significant continuing involvement with a component after its disposal. The standard also requires additional disclosures about disposals of individually material components that are not classified as discontinued operations. The standard is effective for fiscal year-ends beginning after December 15, 2014, however early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact to our financial statements.