Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Total shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Jan. 31, 2013	$ 221,447	$ 65,223	$ 5,885	$ (53,362)	$ 205,695	$ (2,095)	$ 221,346	$ 101
Treasury stock, beginning balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2013				28,897
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	42,902				42,903		42,903	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(84)					(84)	(84)
Cash dividends	(17,465)		104		(17,569)		(17,465)
Shares issued on stock options exercised net of shares withheld for employee taxes	165	95	70				165
Share-based compensation	4,198	0	4,198				4,198
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	$ 299		299				299
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2014	28,897			28,897
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2014	$ 251,462	65,318	10,556	$ (53,362)	231,029	(2,179)	251,362	100
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	31,796				31,733		31,733	63
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(3,670)					(3,670)	(3,670)
Cash dividends	(18,440)		142		(18,582)		(18,440)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest	(79)						0	(79)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	39,214	1,542	37,672				39,214
Director shares issued	0	18	(18)				0
Adj to APiC, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs related to FY15 business combination	(38)
Shares issued on stock options exercised net of shares withheld for employee taxes	641	69	572				641
Share-based compensation	4,213	0	4,213				4,213
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	$ 100		100				100
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2015	28,897			28,897
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2015	$ 305,237	66,947	53,237	$ (53,362)	244,180	(5,849)	305,153	84
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	4,848				4,776		4,776	72
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	2,348					2,348	2,348
Cash dividends	(19,344)		169		(19,513)		(19,344)
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest	(82)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest							0	(82)
Adj to APiC, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs related to FY15 business combination	(15)		(15)				(15)
Shares issued on stock options exercised net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(47)	7	(54)				(47)
Share issued on vesting of stock units , net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(458)	52	(510)				(458)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares				(1,603)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	(29,338)			$ (29,338)			(29,338)
Share-based compensation	2,311		2,311				2,311
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	$ (1,231)		(1,231)				(1,231)
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2016	30,500			30,500
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2016	$ 264,229	$ 67,006	$ 53,907	$ (82,700)	$ 229,443	$ (3,501)	$ 264,155	$ 74