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)	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
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)	25,578				25,540		25,540	38
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(588)					(588)	(588)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	74					74	74
Cash dividends	(13,492)		104		(13,596)		(13,492)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling Interest	(80)							(80)
Director shares issued		18	(18)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(1,020)	(34)	(986)				(1,020)
Employees' stock options exercised	1,594	98	1,496				1,594
Share-based compensation	3,336	0	3,336				3,336
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	91		91				91
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2014	$ 266,955	$ 65,400	$ 14,579	$ (53,362)	$ 242,973	$ (2,693)	$ 266,897	$ 58
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2014	28,897			28,897