Employee and Director Stock Plans - Summary of Restricted Stock Award and Restricted Stock Unit Activity (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015		Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Stock Units (PSUs)
Unreleased restricted stock
Unreleased restricted stock units at January 31, 2014	6,515,600
Granted	4,481,800
Vested	(2,675,600)
Canceled/Forfeited	(445,800)
Performance adjustment	(74,700)	[1]
Unreleased restricted stock units at January 31, 2015	7,801,300		6,515,600
Weighted average grant date fair value
Unreleased restricted stock units at January 31, 2014	$ 39.15
Granted	$ 54.17		$ 42.37	$ 33.32
Vested	$ 37.36
Canceled/Forfeited	$ 41.43
Performance adjustment	$ 42.23	[1]
Unreleased restricted stock units at January 31, 2015	$ 48.46		$ 39.15
Performance Stock Units (PSUs)
Unreleased restricted stock
Granted	500,000
Unreleased restricted stock units at January 31, 2015	900,000
Weighted average grant date fair value
Equity instruments other than options, percent of target	65.80%		92.30%

[1] Based on Autodesk's financial results for the performance period, the fiscal 2014 and 2013 performance stock units were earned at 65.8% and 92.3% of the target award, respectively. The vesting of the performance stock units is subject to the holders satisfying the remaining service condition of the awards.