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)	22,331				22,336		22,336	(5)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(117)					(117)	(117)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	59					59	59
Cash dividends	(8,727)		51		(8,778)		(8,727)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(1,632)	(51)	(1,581)				(1,632)
Employees' stock options exercised	1,430	110	1,320				1,430
Share-based compensation	2,276	0	2,276				2,276
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	247		247				247
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2013	237,314	65,282	8,198	(53,362)	219,253	(2,153)	237,218	96
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 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)	18,781				18,757		18,757	24
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(125)					(125)	(125)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	50					50	50
Cash dividends	(8,747)		68		(8,815)		(8,747)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling Interest								(79)
Director shares issued		18	(18)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(424)	(13)	(411)				(424)
Employees' stock options exercised	882	53	829				882
Share-based compensation	2,428	0	2,428				2,428
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	53		53				53
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2014	$ 264,281	$ 65,376	$ 13,505	$ (53,362)	$ 240,971	$ (2,254)	$ 264,236	$ 45
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2014	28,897			28,897