Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ 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				28,897,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	25,578				25,540		25,540	38
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(588)					(588)	(588)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	74					74	74
Cash dividends	(13,492)		104		(13,596)		(13,492)
Dividends of less than wholly owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling interest	(80)							(80)
Director shares issued	0	18	(18)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	574	64	510				574
Share-based compensation	3,336		3,336				3,336
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	91		91				91
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2014	$ 266,955	65,400	14,579	$ (53,362)	242,973	(2,693)	266,897	58
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2014	28,897,000			28,897,000
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	28,897,000			28,897,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	$ 2,916				2,858		2,858	58
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(172)					(172)	(172)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Unamortized Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax	2,770					2,770	2,770
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(225)					(225)	(225)
Cash dividends	(14,598)		125		(14,723)		(14,598)
Dividends of less than wholly owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling interest	(50)							(50)
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	$ (29,338)			$ (29,338)			(29,338)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	1,602,545			1,603,000
Share-based compensation	$ 1,826		1,826				1,826
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(690)		(690)				(690)
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2015	$ 267,606	$ 67,006	$ 53,919	$ (82,700)	$ 232,315	$ (3,026)	$ 267,514	$ 92
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2015	30,500,000			30,500,000