Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000809933
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--07-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2015
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,659,174
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,643,773