Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Total shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Jan. 31, 2011	$ 141,214	$ 32,511	$ 7,060	$ (53,362)	$ 156,125	$ (1,120)	$ 141,214	$ 0
Treasury stock, beginning balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2011				(14,449)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	50,635				50,569		50,569	66
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(842)					(842)	(842)
Cash dividends	(13,025)		19		(13,044)		(13,025)
Director shares issued	0	7	(7)		0		0
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(2,126)	(37)	(2,089)				(2,126)
Employees' stock options exercised	2,497	84	2,413				2,497
Share-based compensation	1,922	1	1,921				1,922
Tax benefit 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, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2012	(28,897)			(14,449)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	52,555				52,545		52,545	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(133)					(133)	(133)
Cash dividends	(15,244)		63		(15,307)		(15,244)
Two-for-one stock split		32,598	(7,405)		(25,193)
Two-for-one stock split, shares				(14,448)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(2,251)	(36)	(2,215)				(2,251)
Employees' stock options exercised	2,598	95	2,503				2,598
Share-based compensation	3,075	0	3,075				3,075
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	257		257				257
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2013	221,447	65,223	5,885	(53,362)	205,695	(2,095)	221,346	101
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2013	(28,897)			(28,897)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	42,902				42,903		42,903	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(84)					(84)	(84)
Cash dividends	(17,465)		104		(17,569)		(17,465)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(2,105)	(64)	(2,041)				(2,105)
Employees' stock options exercised	2,270	159	2,111				2,270
Share-based compensation	4,198	0	4,198				4,198
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	299		299				299
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2014	$ 251,462	$ 65,318	$ 10,556	$ (53,362)	$ 231,029	$ (2,179)	$ 251,362	$ 100
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2014	(28,897)			(28,897)