Restatement of the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (Balance Sheet Restatement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	$ 48,636	$ 55,152	$ 51,800
Total current assets	126,677	170,979	179,121
Property, plant and equipment, net	117,206	117,513	100,369
Goodwill	40,712	52,148	25,234
Amortizable intangible assets, net	13,327	18,490	9,005
Total assets	301,781	362,873	317,463
Accrued liabilities	11,597	19,187	16,922
Total current liabilities	19,664	31,843	30,076
Other liabilities	14,511	25,793	20,432
Paid-in capital	53,919	53,237	14,579
Retained earnings	232,315	244,180	242,973
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	267,514	305,153	266,897
Total shareholders' equity	267,606	305,237	266,955	$ 251,462
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	301,781	$ 362,873	$ 317,463
As Previously Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	48,624
Total current assets	126,665
Property, plant and equipment, net	117,760
Goodwill	44,796
Amortizable intangible assets, net	16,586
Total assets	309,666
Accrued liabilities	11,906
Total current liabilities	19,973
Other liabilities	17,057
Paid-in capital	54,342
Retained earnings	236,922
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	272,544
Total shareholders' equity	272,636
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	309,666
Restatement Adjustments [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	12
Total current assets	12
Property, plant and equipment, net	(554)
Goodwill	(4,084)
Amortizable intangible assets, net	(3,259)
Total assets	(7,885)
Accrued liabilities	(309)
Total current liabilities	(309)
Other liabilities	(2,546)
Paid-in capital	(423)
Retained earnings	(4,607)
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	(5,030)
Total shareholders' equity	(5,030)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (7,885)