Cover Page Document - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 10, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
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		41,178,710
Common stock, par value per share	$ 0.50		$ 0.50
Document period end date	Sep. 30, 2023