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, 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
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)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	30	8	22				30
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
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2015	305,237	66,947	53,237	(53,362)	244,180	(5,849)	305,153	84
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2015	28,897			28,897
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	4,861				4,855		4,855	6
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(69)					(69)	(69)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	55					55	55
Cash dividends	(4,940)		40		(4,980)		(4,940)
Share issuance costs related to fiscal 2015 business combination	(15)		(15)				(15)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(458)	52	(510)				(458)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock				150
Shares repurchased, value	(3,044)			(3,044)			(3,044)
Share-based compensation	752	0	752				752
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(229)		(229)				(229)
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2015	$ 302,150	$ 66,999	$ 53,275	$ (56,406)	$ 244,055	$ (5,863)	$ 302,060	$ 90
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2015	29,047			29,047