Restatement of the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	$ 46,901	$ 45,839	$ 58,981
Other current assets	4,889	4,429	6,361
Assets, Current	125,593	125,229	161,858
Property, plant and equipment, net	113,374	115,704	118,429
Goodwill	40,816	40,672	52,216
Amortizable intangible assets, net	13,142	12,956	17,735
Total assets	297,170	298,688	354,597
Accrued liabilities	12,703	12,042	16,735
Total current liabilities	22,868	18,819	26,866
Other liabilities	14,439	15,640	25,581
Paid-in capital	53,832	53,907	53,275
Retained earnings	230,207	229,443	244,055
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	259,787	264,155	302,060
Total shareholders' equity	259,863	264,229	302,150	$ 305,237
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	297,170	$ 298,688	$ 354,597
As Previously Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	46,950
Other current assets	5,343
Assets, Current	126,096
Property, plant and equipment, net	113,767
Goodwill	44,900
Amortizable intangible assets, net	15,660
Total assets	304,668
Accrued liabilities	12,739
Total current liabilities	22,904
Other liabilities	17,259
Paid-in capital	54,755
Retained earnings	233,926
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	264,429
Total shareholders' equity	264,505
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	304,668
Restatement Adjustments [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Inventories	(49)
Other current assets	(454)
Assets, Current	(503)
Property, plant and equipment, net	(393)
Goodwill	(4,084)
Amortizable intangible assets, net	(2,518)
Total assets	(7,498)
Accrued liabilities	(36)
Total current liabilities	(36)
Other liabilities	(2,820)
Paid-in capital	(923)
Retained earnings	(3,719)
Total Raven Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	(4,642)
Total shareholders' equity	(4,642)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (7,498)