Retirement Plans (401(k) Retirement Plan) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Company contributions	$ 800,000	$ 1,400,000
Domestic Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Virco stock held in plan	648,565	564,375
Company contributions	$ 738,000	$ 44,000
Domestic Plan [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Participant deferral percentage allowance	1.00%
Domestic Plan [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Participant deferral percentage allowance	75.00%

Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e2709-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration