Per Share Amounts and Common Shares Outstanding (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Apr. 04, 2015	Mar. 29, 2014
Equity [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (3,528)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ (4,011)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic	13,193,000	13,478,000
Weighted-average shares, partially-paid share subscriptions	118,000	128,000
Basic weighted average shares	13,311,000	13,606,000
Incremental shares from assumed exercise of stock subscription purchase rights	62,000	44,000
Incremental shares from assumed exercise of stock options and awards	406,000	359,000
Diluted weighted-average shares	13,779,000	14,009,000
Net loss per share--basic and diluted	$ (0.27)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted	$ (0.29)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares outstanding at January 1, 2015	13,164,933us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
Shares purchased	(102,057)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Shares sold	127,270
Stock subscription offering -- cash purchases	3,477
Options and awards exercised	20,597
Change in shares outstanding	49,287davey_ChangeInSharesOutstanding
Shares outstanding at April 4, 2015	13,214,220us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
Employee and director options exercisable	372,017
Partially-paid subscriptions	474,259
Purchase rights outstanding	192,683

Change in shares outstanding

No definition available.

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- Definition

Incremental common shares attributable to exercise of stock subscription purchase rights

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Stock Issued during period, stock subscription cash sales

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Stock subscription offering, number of partially-paid subscriptions

+ References

No definition available.

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Stock subscription offering, number of rights outstanding

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- Definition

Weighted average number of shares, partially-paid share subscriptions

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share in instances when basic and diluted earnings per share are the same amount and reported as a single line item on the face of the financial statements. Basic earnings per share is the amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share includes the amount of net income or 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.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

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.

+ References

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- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.

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- Definition

Number of shares issued which are neither cancelled nor held in the treasury.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of shares (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), net of any shares forfeited. Shares issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans.

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Number of treasury shares (units) reissued during the period, excluding reissuance of shares (units) held in treasury used to satisfy equity-based compensation obligations exercised by the holders of such rights. Upon reissuance of shares (units) from treasury, either the common or preferred stock (unit) reissued is outstanding.

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- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

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- Definition

The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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- Definition

This element represents the weighted average total number of shares issued throughout the period including the first (beginning balance outstanding) and last (ending balance outstanding) day of the period before considering any reductions (for instance, shares held in treasury) to arrive at the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Weighted average relates to the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been issued and outstanding to the total time in that period. Such concept is used in determining the weighted average number of shares outstanding for purposes of calculating earnings per share (basic).

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- Definition

Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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