Net Income per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 4,191	$ 7,719	$ 9,046	$ 18,757
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	37,659,107	36,462,600	37,829,941	36,444,153
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	91,831	68,414	80,661	70,063
Denominator for basic calculation (in shares)	37,750,938	36,531,014	37,910,602	36,514,216
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	37,659,107	36,462,600	37,829,941	36,444,153
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	91,831	68,414	80,661	70,063
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted units (in shares)	76,662	203,703	80,688	213,502
Denominator for diluted calculation (in shares)	37,827,600	36,734,717	37,991,290	36,727,718
Net income per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.21	$ 0.24	$ 0.51
Net income per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.21	$ 0.24	$ 0.51