Net Income per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 4,495	$ 4,191	$ 10,012	$ 9,046
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,097,228	37,659,107	36,208,573	37,829,941
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	110,083	91,831	102,035	80,661
Denominator for basic calculation (in shares)	36,207,311	37,750,938	36,310,608	37,910,602
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,097,228	37,659,107	36,208,573	37,829,941
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	110,083	91,831	102,035	80,661
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted units (in shares)	43,001	76,662	51,547	80,688
Denominator for diluted calculation (in shares)	36,250,312	37,827,600	36,362,155	37,991,290
Net income per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.11000	$ 0.28	$ 0.24
Net income per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.11000	$ 0.28	$ 0.24