Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Director [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Director [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Stock Options [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Total Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Employee Stock Option [Member]	Employee Stock Option [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Employee Stock Option [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Employee Stock Option [Member] Total Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]
Total shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Jan. 31, 2009	$ 113,556	$ 32,461	$ 4,531	$ (53,362)	$ 131,080	$ (1,154)	$ 113,556
Treasury stock, shares beginning at Jan. 31, 2009				(14,449,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	28,574				28,574		28,574
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(47)					(47)	(47)
Dividends	(9,911)		11		(9,922)		(9,911)
Stock surrendered upon exercise of stock options											(1,370)	(51)	(1,319)	(1,370)	1,439	65	1,374	1,439
Share-based compensation	1,034	3	1,031				1,034
Tax benefit/cost from exercise of stock options	(24)		(24)				(24)
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2010	133,251	32,478	5,604	(53,362)	149,732	(1,201)	133,251
Treasury stock, value ending at Jan. 31, 2010	(53,362)
Treasury stock, shares ending at Jan. 31, 2010	(14,449,000)			(14,449,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	40,537				40,537		40,537
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	81					81	81
Dividends	(11,546)		17		(11,563)		(11,546)
Dividends (special - $1.25 per share)	(22,549)		32		(22,581)		(22,549)
Stock surrendered upon exercise of stock options											(3,117)	(79)	(3,038)	(3,117)	3,369	112	3,257	3,369
Share-based compensation	1,179		1,179				1,179
Tax benefit/cost from exercise of stock options	9		9				9
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2011	141,214	32,511	7,060	(53,362)	156,125	(1,120)	141,214
Treasury stock, value ending at Jan. 31, 2011	(53,362)
Treasury stock, shares ending at Jan. 31, 2011	(14,449,000)			(14,449,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	50,635				50,569		50,569	66
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(842)					(842)	(842)
Dividends	(13,025)		19		(13,044)		(13,025)
Stock surrendered upon exercise of stock options											(2,126)	(37)	(2,089)	(2,126)	2,497	84	2,413	2,497
Employees' stock options exercised									7	(7)
Share-based compensation	1,922	1	1,921				1,922
Tax benefit/cost from exercise of stock options	290		290				290
Noncontrolling capital contribution	25							25
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2012	180,590	32,566	9,607	(53,362)	193,650	(1,962)	180,499	91
Treasury stock, value ending at Jan. 31, 2012	$ (53,362)
Treasury stock, shares ending at Jan. 31, 2012	(14,449,000)			(14,449,000)