Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	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)	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)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(79)	0	0		0		0	(79)
Director shares issued	0	18	(18)				0
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	458	40	418				458
Share-based compensation	2,428	0	2,428				2,428
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	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
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)	$ 9,082				9,046		9,046	36
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(174)					(174)	(174)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax benefit	201					201	201
Cash dividends	(9,834)		82		(9,916)		(9,834)
Share issuance costs related to fiscal 2015 business combination	(15)		(15)				(15)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(47)	7	(54)				(47)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(458)	52	(510)				(458)
Shares repurchased, value	(10,825)			$ (10,825)			(10,825)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock				550
Share-based compensation	1,436	0	1,436				1,436
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(267)		(267)				(267)
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2015	$ 294,336	$ 67,006	$ 53,909	$ (64,187)	$ 243,310	$ (5,822)	$ 294,216	$ 120
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2015	29,447			29,447