Restatement of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	$ 45,839	$ 55,152	$ 54,865
Other current assets	4,429	3,094	3,288
Total current assets	125,229	170,979	169,405
Property, plant and equipment, net	115,704	117,513	98,076
Goodwill	40,672	52,148	22,274	$ 22,274
Amortizable intangible assets, net	(12,956)	(18,490)	(8,156)
Total assets	298,688	362,873	301,819
Other liabilities	15,640	25,793	20,538
Paid-in capital	53,907	53,237	10,556
Retained earnings	229,443	244,180	231,029
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	264,155	305,153	251,362
Total shareholders' equity	264,229	305,237	251,462	$ 221,447
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	298,688	$ 362,873	$ 301,819
As Previously Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	45,888
Other current assets	4,884
Total current assets	125,733
Property, plant and equipment, net	116,162
Goodwill	44,756
Amortizable intangible assets, net	(15,832)
Total assets	306,610
Other liabilities	18,926
Paid-in capital	54,830
Retained earnings	233,156
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	268,791
Total shareholders' equity	268,865
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	306,610
Restatement Adjustments [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	(49)
Other current assets	(455)
Total current assets	(504)
Property, plant and equipment, net	(458)
Goodwill	(4,084)
Amortizable intangible assets, net	2,876
Total assets	(7,922)
Other liabilities	(3,286)
Paid-in capital	(923)
Retained earnings	(3,713)
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	(4,636)
Total shareholders' equity	(4,636)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (7,922)