Business acquisition contingent consideration payments period

No definition available.

Name:	ravn_Businessacquisitioncontingentconsiderationpaymentsperiod
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Combination Cash received for working capital adjustment Integra Business Acquisition cash received for working capital adjustment to the purchase price. Reduces the estimated receivable recorded in prior period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ravn_BusinessCombinationCashreceivedforworkingcapitaladjustment
Namespace Prefix:	ravn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contingent Consideration Term in Years; Maximum number of years contingent consideration may be paid

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ravn_ContingentConsiderationTerminYears
Namespace Prefix:	ravn_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the business acquisition agreement was executed, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionDateOfAcquisitionAgreement1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Name of the acquired entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionNameOfAcquiredEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the value of a contingent consideration liability, including, but not limited to, differences arising upon settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e7008-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 25

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph b

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911338&loc=d3e6819-128478

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination, expected to be settled within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination, expected to be settled beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationDescriptionAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of any measurement period adjustment (as defined) realized during the reporting period to items of consideration transferred in connection with a business combination for which the initial accounting was incomplete.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1500-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationProvisionalInformationInitialAccountingIncompleteAdjustmentConsiderationTransferred
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ravn_IntegraPlasticsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ravn_NavtronicsMember
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ravn_SBGInnovatieMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 52,216us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 22,274us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 52,148us-gaap_Goodwill
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements [Abstract]
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Current	938	628	1,375
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Noncurrent	3,046	2,056	3,631
Payments of acquisition-related contingent liability	(614)	(454)
Integra Plastics [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Name of Acquired Entity	Integra Plastics, Inc.
Business Combination Cash received for working capital adjustment	351
Business Acquisition, adjustment to consideration transferred	20
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	48,262
Goodwill	27,422
SBG Innovatie [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Name of Acquired Entity	SBG Innovatie BV
Navtronics [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Name of Acquired Entity	Navtronics BVBA
SBG Innovatie and Affiliates [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement	May 01, 2014
Contingent consideration, potential cash payment	2,500
Contingent Consideration Term in Years	10 years
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements [Abstract]
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, total liability	1,410
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Current	287
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Noncurrent	1,123
Payments of acquisition-related contingent liability	29
Vista Research [Member]
Business Combination, Description [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement	Jan. 06, 2012
Contingent consideration, potential cash payment	15,000
Business acquisition contingent consideration payments period	7 years
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements [Abstract]
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, total liability	2,571	2,594
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Current	648	538
Acquisition-related contingent consideration liability, Noncurrent	1,923	2,056
Payments of acquisition-related contingent liability	$ 585	$ 454