Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Jun. 08, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	ARGAN INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000100591
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,676,865