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, 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	9,082				9,046		9,046	36
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(174)					(174)	(174)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	201					201	201
Cash dividends	(9,834)		82		(9,916)		(9,834)
Share issuance costs related to fiscal 2015 business combination	(15)		(15)				(15)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	(47)	7	(54)				(47)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (458)	52	(510)				(458)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	549,958			550,000
Shares repurchased	$ (10,825)			$ (10,825)			(10,825)
Share-based compensation	1,436	0	1,436				1,436
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(267)		(267)				(267)
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2015	$ 294,336	67,006	53,909	$ (64,187)	243,310	(5,822)	294,216	120
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2015	29,447,000			29,447,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2016	$ 264,229	67,006	53,907	$ (82,700)	229,443	(3,501)	264,155	74
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2016	30,500,000			30,500,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 10,013				10,012		10,012	1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	347					347	347
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(4)					(4)	(4)
Cash dividends	(9,388)		108		(9,496)		(9,388)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	(40)						0	(40)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(256)	35	(291)				(256)
Director shares issued	$ 0	19	(19)				0
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	484,252			484,000
Shares repurchased	$ (7,702)			$ (7,702)			(7,702)
Share-based compensation	1,574	0	1,574				1,574
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(317)		(317)				(317)
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2016	$ 258,456	$ 67,060	$ 54,962	$ (90,402)	$ 229,959	$ (3,158)	$ 258,421	$ 35
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2016	30,984,000			30,984,000