Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	May. 31, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	QAD INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001036188
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2016
Common Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,609,867
Common Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,205,362