Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Total shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Jan. 31, 2014	$ 251,462	$ 65,318	$ 10,556	$ (53,362)	$ 231,029	$ (2,179)	$ 251,362	$ 100
Treasury stock, beginning balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2014				28,897
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	31,796				31,733		31,733	63
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(3,670)					(3,670)	(3,670)
Cash dividends	(18,440)		142		(18,582)		(18,440)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest	(79)							(79)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	39,214	1,542	37,672				39,214
Director shares issued	0	18	(18)
Adj to APiC, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs related to FY15 business combination	(38)
Shares issued on stock options exercised net of shares withheld for employee taxes	641	69	572				641
Share-based compensation	4,213		4,213				4,213
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	$ 100		100				100
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2015	28,897			28,897
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2015	$ 305,237	66,947	53,237	$ (53,362)	244,180	(5,849)	305,153	84
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	4,848				4,776		4,776	72
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	2,348					2,348	2,348
Cash dividends	(19,344)		169		(19,513)		(19,344)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest	(82)							(82)
Adj to APiC, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs related to FY15 business combination	(15)		(15)				(15)
Shares issued on stock options exercised net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(47)	7	(54)				(47)
Share issued on vesting of stock units , net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(458)	52	(510)				(458)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares				1,603
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	(29,338)			$ (29,338)			(29,338)
Share-based compensation	2,311		2,311				2,311
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	$ (1,231)		(1,231)				(1,231)
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2016	30,500			30,500
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2016	$ 264,229	67,006	53,907	$ (82,700)	229,443	(3,501)	264,155	74
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	20,192				20,191		20,191	1
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(175)					(175)	(175)
Cash dividends	(18,769)		216		(18,985)		(18,769)
Dividends of less than wholly-owned subsidiary paid to noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest	(70)							(70)
Director shares issued	0	19	(19)
Share issued on vesting of stock units , net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(256)	35	(291)				(256)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares				484
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	(7,702)			$ (7,702)			(7,702)
Share-based compensation	3,071		3,071				3,071
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	$ (1,089)		(1,089)				(1,089)
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2017	30,984			30,984
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2017	$ 259,431	$ 67,060	$ 55,795	$ (90,402)	$ 230,649	$ (3,676)	$ 259,426	$ 5