Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 04, 2015	May 01, 2015
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-Q
Document Period End Date	Apr. 04, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,084,255