Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 08, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	DAVEY TREE EXPERT CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000277638
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,731,031
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 217,558,440