Net Income per Share - Schedule of calculation of numerator and denominator in earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 20,191	$ 4,776	$ 31,733
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,142,416	37,237,717	36,859,026
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	100,019	86,745	69,484
Denominator for basic calculation (in shares)	36,242,435	37,324,462	36,928,510
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,142,416	37,237,717	36,859,026
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	100,019	86,745	69,484
Dilutive impact of stock options and RSUs (in shares)	129,480	75,481	174,784
Denominator for diluted calculation (in shares)	36,371,915	37,399,943	37,103,294
Net income per share - basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.13	$ 0.86
Net income per share - diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.56	$ 0.13	$ 0.86