Cover Page Document - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 28, 2020	May 01, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity file number	000-11917
Entity registrant name	THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT COMPANY
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Entity interactive data current	Yes
Entity common stock, shares outstanding		22,817,499
Document period end date	Mar. 28, 2020