Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies Business Acquisition (Details)			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 03, 2014 USD ($) shares	May 01, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($) investments	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($) investments	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($) investments	Jan. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill					$ 40,649,000	$ 40,672,000	$ 52,148,000	$ 22,274,000
Fair value of contingent consideration liability, current					445,000	407,000	1,375,000
Fair value of contingent consideration liability, non current					1,397,000	1,732,000	3,631,000
Cash paid to settle outstanding contingent consideration					$ (354,000)	$ (814,000)	$ (533,000)
Number of Equity method investments held by name | investments						1	1
Percentage of voting interest acquired					22.00%
Integra Plastics [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Date of acquisition agreement	Nov. 03, 2014
Name of acquired entity	Integra Plastics, Inc.
Business Combination, Reason for Business Combination							This acquisition expanded Raven's Engineered Films Division's production capacity with additional extrusion and lamination operations in Brandon, South Dakota and fabrication locations in Madison, South Dakota and Midland, Texas, as well as broadened Engineered Films' product offerings and enhanced its converting capabilities.
Total purchase price from business acquisition	$ 48,200,000
Number of shares issued | shares	1,541,696
Value of company's common stock	$ 39,252,000
Cash payments to acquire entity	9,361,000
Amount received in settlement of the working capital adjustment to the purchase price			$ (351,000)
Adjustment to purchase price allocation			20,000
Goodwill	27,422,000		$ 27,422,000
Amount of goodwill that is tax deductible							$ 0
Business acquisition-related debt, outstanding balance					$ 0	$ 0	0
Revenue of acquiree since acquisition date							5,627,000
Net loss since acquisition date							$ (874,000)
SBG Innovatiie and affiliate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Date of acquisition agreement		May 01, 2014
Business Combination, Reason for Business Combination							The acquisition broadened Applied Technology Division’s guided steering system product line by adding high-accuracy implement steering applications. Additionally, SBG’s headquarters have become the home office for Raven in Europe, expanding the Company’s global presence and reach into key European markets.
Total purchase price from business acquisition		$ 5,000,000
Goodwill		3,250,000
Amount of goodwill that is tax deductible		0
Amount of identifiable intangible assets acquired		2,104,000
Business acquisition-related debt, outstanding balance					0	0	$ 0
Revenue of acquiree since acquisition date							3,245,000
Net loss since acquisition date							152,000
Maximum amount of contingent consideration to be paid		$ 2,500,000
Duration for payments of contingent consideration		10 years
Acquisition-related contingent liability, Total					1,409,000	1,499,000	1,432,000
Fair value of contingent consideration liability, current					247,000	249,000	236,000
Fair value of contingent consideration liability, non current					1,162,000	1,250,000	1,196,000
Business acquisition contingent consideration, cumulative amount paid					583,000
Cash paid to settle outstanding contingent consideration					$ 275,000	229,000	79,000
SBG Innovatie [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Name of acquired entity		SBG Innovatie BV
Navtronics [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Name of acquired entity		Navtronics BVBA
Vista Research [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Date of acquisition agreement					Jan. 06, 2012
Maximum amount of contingent consideration to be paid					$ 15,000,000
Acquisition-related contingent liability, Total					332,000	560,000	2,989,000
Fair value of contingent consideration liability, current					98,000	78,000	554,000
Fair value of contingent consideration liability, non current					234,000	482,000	2,435,000
Business acquisition contingent consideration, cumulative amount paid					1,471,000
Cash paid to settle outstanding contingent consideration					$ 79,000	585,000	454,000
Business acquisition contingent consideration payments period					7 years
Vista Research [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Reduction in fair value of contingent consideration liability				$ 2,273,000		2,273,000
Customer Relationships [Member] | Integra Plastics [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount of identifiable intangible assets acquired	$ 10,000,000
Weighted average useful life	12 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | SBG Innovatie [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life		12 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | Integra Plastics [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount of identifiable intangible assets acquired	$ 200,000
Weighted average useful life	2 years
Other Intangible Assets [Member] | SBG Innovatie [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life		5 years
Applied Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill					$ 12,342,000	$ 12,365,000	$ 12,550,000	$ 9,892,000
Number of Equity method investments held by name | investments					2
Applied Technology [Member] | AgEagle Aerial Systems [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Additional Information					AgEagle
Variable Interest Entity, acquisition date equity method investment					Feb. 29, 2016
Percentage of voting interest acquired					5.00%
Applied Technology [Member] | SST [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Additional Information					SST
Percentage of voting interest acquired					22.00%