Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	SRNA
Entity Registrant Name	SERENA SOFTWARE INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001073967
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	99,193,365