Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	$1 Par Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2016	$ 264,229	$ 67,006	$ 53,907	$ (82,700)	$ 229,443	$ (3,501)	$ 264,155	$ 74
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2016				30,500,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	15,754				15,753		15,753	1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	146					146	146
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(6)					(6)	(6)
Cash dividends	(14,078)		161		(14,239)		(14,078)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	70	0	0		0		0	70
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(256)	35	(291)				(256)
Director shares issued	$ 0	19	(19)				0
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	484,252			484,000
Shares repurchased	$ (7,702)			$ (7,702)			(7,702)
Share-based compensation	2,291	0	2,291				2,291
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(346)		(346)				(346)
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2016	$ 259,962	67,060	55,703	$ (90,402)	230,957	(3,361)	259,957	5
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2016	30,984,000			30,984,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2017	$ 259,431	67,060	55,795	$ (90,402)	230,649	(3,676)	259,426	5
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2017	30,984,000			30,984,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 32,579				32,581		32,581	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	637					637	637
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(19)					(19)	(19)
Cash dividends	(14,032)		164		(14,196)		(14,032)
Stock issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(157)	13	(170)				(157)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(151)	11	(162)				(151)
Director shares issued	$ 0	4	(4)				0
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	348,286			348,000
Shares repurchased	$ (10,000)			$ (10,000)			(10,000)
Share-based compensation	2,861	0	2,861				2,861
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2017	$ 271,149	$ 67,088	$ 58,484	$ (100,402)	$ 249,034	$ (3,058)	$ 271,146	$ 3
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2017	31,332,000			31,332,000