Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 9,364,669	$ 9,444,660
Investment securities available for sale	1,590,182	1,463,864
Contract receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and contract adjustments of $5,639,291 and $5,592,800, respectively	46,769,598	47,134,007
Deferred income taxes	4,249,496	4,308,538
Income tax receivable	4,190,680	4,355,260
Other current assets	2,485,917	1,784,826
Total current assets	68,650,542	68,491,155
Property, building and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $25,659,262 and $24,569,139, respectively	9,375,498	10,122,801
Deferred income taxes	1,089,559	1,089,060
Other assets	1,972,258	1,978,668
Total assets	81,087,857	81,681,684
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	7,995,039	9,864,138
Lines of credit	6,500,000	6,528,691
Accrued payroll costs	7,778,443	7,102,910
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	956,227	199,658
Billings in excess of revenue	6,384,842	6,437,730
Other accrued liabilities	4,186,715	4,070,073
Total current liabilities	33,801,266	34,203,200
Income taxes payable	124,793	124,793
Deferred income taxes	462,787	462,787
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations	524,009	251,614
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued)	0	0
Capital in excess of par value	19,406,779	20,016,873
Retained earnings	25,746,244	25,365,853
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	166,683	(84,527)
Treasury stock, at cost (Class A common: 22,654 and 79,110 shares; Class B common: 64,801 shares)	(1,053,029)	(1,798,233)
Total Ecology and Environment, Inc. shareholders' equity	44,310,615	43,543,904
Noncontrolling interests	1,864,387	3,095,386
Total shareholders' equity	46,175,002	46,639,290
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	81,087,857	81,681,684
Class A [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	26,851	26,851
Class B [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	$ 17,087	$ 17,087