Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 277,395	$ 258,229	$ 378,153
Cost of sales	199,205	191,255	274,907
Gross profit	78,190	66,974	103,246
Research and development expenses	16,312	14,686	17,440
Selling, general and administrative expenses	33,378	32,574	42,005
Goodwill impairment loss	0	11,497	0
Long-lived asset impairment loss	87	3,826	0
Operating income	28,413	4,391	43,801
Other (expense), net	(560)	(310)	(300)
Income before income taxes	27,853	4,081	43,501
Income tax expense (benefit)	7,661	(767)	11,705
Net income	20,192	4,848	31,796
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	72	63
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 20,191	$ 4,776	$ 31,733
Net income per common share:
─ Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.13	$ 0.86
─ Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.13	$ 0.86
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 20,192	$ 4,848	$ 31,796
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	50	(729)	(1,466)
Postretirement benefits, net of income tax benefit (expense) of $129, ($1,620), and $1,187, respectively	(225)	3,077	(2,204)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(175)	2,348	(3,670)
Comprehensive income	20,017	7,196	28,126
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	72	63
Comprehensive income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 20,016	$ 7,124	$ 28,063