Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) (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]
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)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	13,994				14,003		14,003	(9)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(54)					(54)	(54)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	30					30	30
Cash dividends	(4,361)		25		(4,386)		(4,361)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(599)	(19)	(580)				(599)
Employees' stock options exercised	462	36	426				462
Share-based compensation	829	0	829				829
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	144		144				144
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2013	231,892	65,240	6,729	(53,362)	215,312	(2,119)	231,800	92
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2013	(28,897)			(28,897)
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2014	251,462	65,318	10,556	(53,362)	231,029	(2,179)	251,362	100
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2014	(28,897)			28,897
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	11,034				11,038		11,038	(4)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	74					74	74
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	24					24	24
Cash dividends	(4,371)		34		(4,405)		(4,371)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(159)	(4)	(155)				(159)
Employees' stock options exercised	189	12	177				189
Share-based compensation	991	0	991				991
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2014	$ 259,244	$ 65,326	$ 11,603	$ (53,362)	$ 237,662	$ (2,081)	$ 259,148	$ 96
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2014	(28,897)			(28,897)