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		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 5,741	$ (6,188)	$ 15,753	$ 2,858
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,076,259	36,785,140	36,164,468	37,481,675
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding (in shares)	97,716	92,470	100,595	84,597
Denominator for basic calculation (in shares)	36,173,975	36,877,610	36,265,063	37,566,272
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,076,259	36,785,140	36,164,468	37,481,675
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding (in shares)	97,716	92,470	100,595	84,597
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted units (in shares)	122,270	0	70,102	47,773
Denominator for diluted calculation (in shares)	36,296,245	36,877,610	36,335,165	37,614,045
Net income per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16000	$ (0.17000)	$ 0.43	$ 0.08
Net income per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16000	$ (0.17000)	$ 0.43	$ 0.08