Document And Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		3,205,865
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		15,767,632
Entity Registrant Name	QAD INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001036188
Trading Symbol	qada
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false