Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 03, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	DAWSON GEOPHYSICAL CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000351231
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,920,869