Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests	$ 72,081us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ (643,707)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 1,208,202us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ (128,593)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(636,207)	(601,891)	(1,189,635)	(365,977)
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net	7,451	(1,732)	13,051	(1,966)
Comprehensive (loss)\ income	(556,675)	(1,247,330)	31,618	(496,536)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	94,819	(56,951)	(192,461)	(176,144)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Ecology and Environment, Inc.	$ (461,856)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ (1,304,281)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ (160,843)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	$ (672,680)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments, of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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