Stock-based Compensation Expense Summary of Restricted Stock Award and Restricted Stock Unit Activity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014		Apr. 30, 2013
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Performance shares units payout percentage	65.80%		92.30%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares
Unvested Restricted Stock Units
Unreleased restricted stock	6,515,600
Awarded	1,049,500
Vested	(731,000)
Forfeited	(74,900)
Unreleased restricted stock	6,684,500
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Unreleased restricted stock (in usd per share)	$ 39.15
Awarded (in usd per share)	$ 49.96		$ 41.58
Vested (in usd per share)	$ 40.24
Forfeited (in usd per share)	$ 40.20
Unreleased restricted stock (in usd per share)	$ 40.67
Performance Stock Unit
Unvested Restricted Stock Units
Awarded	500,000
Performance adjustment	(74,700)	[1]
Unreleased restricted stock	900,000
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Performance adjustment (in usd per share)	$ 42.23	[1]

[1] Based on Autodesk's financial results for both the fiscal 2013 and 2014 performance period. The performance stock units were earned at 92.3% and 65.8% of the target award for granted in fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2014, respectively.