NOTE 6 - LINE OF CREDIT AND DEBT (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 PNC Credit Facility [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 PNC Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Wells Fargo Credit Facility [Member]	Aug. 01, 2011 Wells Fargo Credit Facility [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Ex-Im Bank Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End	5.00%		5.00%		4.125%
Interest Expense (in Dollars)	$ 0.4	$ 0.2	$ 0.7	$ 0.4
Line of Credit, Term							3 years	28 months
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars)						35.0		25.0	35.0	9.5
Line of Credit Facility, Description						Lender's Commitment Percentage of the lesser of (a) $35.0 million less the maximum undrawn amount on all outstanding letters of credit, or (b) an amount equal to the sum of: (i) up to 85% of Eligible Receivables, plus (ii) up to the lesser of (x) up to 85% of Eligible Extended Term Receivables or (y) $3.0 million, plus (iii) up to the lesser of (x) up to 85% of Eligible Government Receivables or (y) $800,000, plus (iv) up to the lesser of (x) 75% of Eligible Unbilled Receivables or (y) $8.5 million; provided, however, that no more than $800,000 of the amount resulting from the calculation of this part (iv) may be attributable to Eligible Unbilled Receivables owed by Government Customers, plus (v) up to the lesser of (x) up to 50% of Eligible Costs in Excess of Billings or (y) $4.0 million, minus (vi) the Maximum Undrawn Amount of all outstanding letters of credit, minus (vii) such reserves as Agent may deem proper and necessary in the exercise of its discretion.
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description						Loans will bear interest at (a) the sum of the Alternate Base Rate (defined as a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (x) the commercial lending rate of Agent as publicly announced and in effect on such day, (y) the daily federal funds open rate as quoted by ICAP North America, Inc. in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%, and (z) the Daily Libor Rate plus 1% (with the Daily LIBOR Rate determined by taking the LIBOR rate published in the Wall Street Journal and dividing it by a number equal to 1 minus the reserve percentage on that day as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve), plus the Applicable Margin (defined below) for Domestic Rate Loans or (b) the sum of the Eurodollar Rate (defined as a fluctuating rate determined by Agent by dividing the quoted LIBOR rate (as selected from a variety of sources) by a number equal to 1 minus the reserve percentage on that day as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve), plus the Applicable Margin with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans.
Line of Credit Facility, Collateral						Loan Agreement are secured by a first priority perfected lien against any and all personal property assets of each of the Borrowers (other than certain excluded property, including certain accounts receivable related to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium pledged under the Ex-Im Transaction Specific Credit Agreement dated as of July 13, 2011 between ENGlobal US and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association).				$2.3 million in cash
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date						May 29, 2015
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms						Maintain as of the last day of each applicable period a Tangible Net Worth at least equal to the amount set forth for such period: (a) for each of the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2012, September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2012, a minimum Tangible Net Worth of 90% of the Tangible Net Worth of the Borrowers on a consolidated basis on the Closing Date, and (b) for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2013, and as of the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter, a minimum Tangible Net Worth equal to that required on December 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year plus (i) 75% of Borrowers' after tax net income for such year if such after tax net income is greater than $0, or (ii) $0, if Borrowers' after tax net income for such year is less than or equal to $0. Maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00, measured as of (a) June 30, 2012, for the fiscal quarter then most recently ended, (b) September 30, 2012, for the two fiscal quarter period then most recently ended, (c) December 31, 2012, for the three fiscal quarter then most recently ended, (d) March 31, 2013 and as of the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter, for the four fiscal quarter period then most recently ended. Maintain at all times Average Excess Availability of not less than $3.5 million measured monthly as of the last day of the month. Not permit the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses incurred in connection with Borrower's performance of its Caspian project obligations to exceed the aggregate amount of cash receipts attributable to the Caspian Contracts by more than the following amounts: (a) for the month ending June 30, 2012, $6.5 million, (b) for the month ending September 30, 2012, $1.0 million, and (c) for the month ending December 31, 2012, $0. The Borrowers will not be party to mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, reorganizations or similar transactions. The Borrowers will not sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of their properties or assets (subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Loan Agreement). The Borrowers will not contract for, purchase or make any expenditure or commitment for capital expenditures in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 and in any fiscal year thereafter, in an aggregate amount in excess of $3.5 million. The Borrowers will not declare, pay or make any dividend or distribution on any shares of common or preferred stock or use any funds, property or assets to repurchase or otherwise retire any common or preferred stock.				ENGlobal will not be a party to mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, reorganizations or similar transactions. ENGlobal will not contract for, purchase or make any expenditure or commitment for capital expenditures in any fiscal year, in an aggregate amount in excess of $3.5 million. ENGlobal will not incur any indebtedness except for (a) ENGlobal's liabilities under the PNC Credit Facility, and (b) any other liabilities of ENGlobal not to exceed $1 million in indebtedness in any 12 month period for the unsecured financing of insurance premiums. ENGlobal will not declare, pay or make any dividend or distribution on any shares of common or preferred stock or use any funds, property or assets to repurchase or otherwise retire any common or preferred stock. Maintain as of the last day of each applicable period a Tangible Net Worth ratio not greater than 2.25 to 1.0. Maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.75 to 1.00, measured as of each fiscal quarter end commencing September 30, 2011, determined on a rolling 4-quarter basis.
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance						ENGlobal did not provide a foreign good standing certificate for ENGlobal US issued by the Secretary of State or other appropriate official of the State Illinois within 14 days of the closing of the PNC Credit Facility. Status - Borrowers filed the amended and restated franchise tax filings with the Illinois Secretary of State on July 20, 2012. Barring any further delays, Borrowers expect to receive the foreign good standing certificate in the near future. ENGlobal did not deliver to Agent a landlord waiver requested to be provided within 30 days of the closing of the PNC Credit Facility. Status - The requested landlord waiver is still outstanding, although the form of the waiver has been approved by both the landlord and the Borrowers' counsel. Borrowers remitted payment to the landlord's legal counsel for the waiver preparation fee during the week ended August 17, 2012 and expect to receive this waiver in the near future. Tangible Net Worth - Borrowers did not maintain Tangible Net Worth, as of June 30, 2012, of at least 90% of the Borrowers' Tangible Net Worth as of the closing date of the PNC Credit Facility. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio - Borrowers did not maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00 measured as of the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012. Schedules - Borrowers did not deliver the May 2012 Borrowing Base Certificate (along with updated ineligibles and supporting schedules) to the Agent within twenty (20) days after the end of the month. Borrowers delivered the May 2012 Borrowing Base Certificate to the Agent on August 7, 2012. Borrowers did not deliver the June 2012 Borrowing Base Certificate (along with updated ineligibles and supporting schedules) to the Agent within twenty (20) days after the end of the month. Borrowers delivered the June 2012 Borrowing Base Certificate to the Agent on July 30, 2012. Monthly Financial Statements - Borrowers did not furnish the Agent the monthly financial statements for June 2012 within thirty (30) days after the end of the month. The June 2012 monthly financial statements were delivered to the Agent on August 1, 2012. As of the result of the covenant violations described above, the Company is currently in default under the terms of the PNC Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, the Agent has not taken any action with respect to the Company's defaults and the Company was actively discussing with the Agent the terms under which such defaults may be cured or waived. Although the Company is in active discussions with the Agent, the Company cannot assure you that it will be successful in obtaining the cure or waiver of such defaults, and in such event, the Agent may exercise any and all rights and remedies available to it, including demanding immediate repayment of all amounts then outstanding or initiating foreclosure or insolvency proceedings. In such event and if we are unable to obtain alternative financing, our business will be materially and adversely affected, and we may be forced to sharply curtail or cease operations.				Tangible Net Worth Ratio - As of June 30, 2012, ENGlobal did not maintain a Tangible Net Worth ratio not greater than 2.25 to 1.0. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio - ENGlobal did not maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.75 to 1.00 measured for the rolling four quarter period ended June 30, 2012. As of the result of the covenant violations described above, the Company is currently in default under the terms of the Ex-Im Bank Facility. As of the date of this filing, Wells Fargo had not taken any action with respect to the Company's defaults and the Company was actively discussing with Wells Fargo the terms under which such defaults may be cured or waived. Although the Company is in active discussions with Wells Fargo, the Company cannot assure you that it will be successful in obtaining the cure or waiver of such defaults, and in such event, Wells Fargo may exercise any and all rights and remedies available to it, up to and including terminating the Ex-Im Bank Facility. In such event and if we are unable to obtain an alternative facility, our business will be materially and adversely affected, and we may be forced to sharply curtail or cease operations.
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding (in Dollars)										$ 9.1