Stock-based Compensation Expense Summary of Restricted Stock Award and Restricted Stock Unit Activity (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016 $ / shares shares
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares
Unvested Restricted Stock Units
Unvested restricted stock units at January 31, 2016 (shares)	7,739,600
Granted (shares)	3,661,700
Vested (shares)	(2,848,800)
Canceled/Forfeited (shares)	(609,600)
Unvested restricted stock units at October 31, 2016 (shares)	7,913,200
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Unvested restricted stock units at January 31, 2016 (usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 51.80
Granted (in usd per share) | $ / shares	63.77
Vested (in usd per share) | $ / shares	50.46
Canceled/Forfeited (in usd per share) | $ / shares	52.53
Unvested restricted stock units at October 31, 2016 (usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 58.41
Performance Stock Unit
Unvested Restricted Stock Units
Granted (shares)	400,000
Performance adjustment (shares)	(29,700)	[1]
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Performance adjustment (in usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 63.81	[1]
Minimum | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Performance shares units payout	86.10%
Maximum | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Performance shares units payout	98.00%

[1] Based on Autodesk's financial results and relative total stockholder return for the fiscal 2016 performance period. The performance stock units were attained at rates ranging from 86.1% to 98.0% of the target award.