Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	$1 Par Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]	Stock Options [Member]	Stock Options [Member] $1 Par Common Stock [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Paid-in Capital [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2012	$ 180,590	$ 32,566	$ 9,607	$ (53,362)	$ 193,650	$ (1,962)	$ 180,499	$ 91
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2012				(14,449)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	41,453				41,448		41,448	5
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(4)					(4)	(4)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	114					114	114
Cash dividends	11,430		47		11,477		11,430
Two-for-one stock split (in shares)				(14,448)
Two-for-one stock split	0	32,598	(7,405)		(25,193)		0
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options									(2,249)	(36)	(2,213)	(2,249)
Employees' stock options exercised									2,463	87	2,376	2,463
Share-based compensation	2,387	0	2,387				2,387
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	257		257				257
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2012	213,581	65,215	5,056	(53,362)	198,428	(1,852)	213,485	96
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2012	(28,897)			(28,897)
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2013	221,447	65,223	5,885	(53,362)	205,695	(2,095)	221,346	101
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2013	(28,897)			(28,897)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	34,624				34,625		34,625	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(170)					(170)	(170)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	89					89	89
Cash dividends	13,094		(77)		13,171		13,094
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options									(1,717)	(54)	(1,663)	(1,717)
Employees' stock options exercised									1,603	124	1,479	1,603
Share-based compensation	3,289	0	3,289				3,289
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	259		259				259
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2013	$ 246,330	$ 65,293	$ 9,326	$ (53,362)	$ 227,149	$ (2,176)	$ 246,230	$ 100
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2013	(28,897)			(28,897)