Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2012	Jul. 03, 2011	Feb. 06, 2012 Common Class A	Feb. 06, 2012 Common Class B
Entity Registrant Name	KELLY SERVICES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000055135
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 01, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-01
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 487,710,754
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			33,459,401	3,454,485