Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 377,317	$ 277,395	$ 258,229
Cost of sales	255,752	199,205	191,255
Gross profit	121,565	78,190	66,974
Research and development expenses	16,936	16,312	14,686
Selling, general and administrative expenses	45,200	33,378	32,574
Goodwill impairment loss	0	0	11,497
Long-lived asset impairment loss	259	87	3,826
Operating income	59,170	28,413	4,391
Other (expense), net	(184)	(560)	(310)
Income before income taxes	58,986	27,853	4,081
Income tax expense (benefit)	17,967	7,661	(767)
Net income	41,019	20,192	4,848
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3)	1	72
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 41,022	$ 20,191	$ 4,776
Net income per common share:
─ Basic (in usd per share)	$ 1.14	$ 0.56	$ 0.13
─ Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 1.13	$ 0.56	$ 0.13
Comprehensive income:
Net income	$ 41,019	$ 20,192	$ 4,848
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	1,234	50	(729)
Postretirement benefits, net of income tax (expense) benefit of $44, $129, and $(1,620), respectively	(131)	(225)	3,077
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,103	(175)	2,348
Comprehensive income	42,122	20,017	7,196
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3)	1	72
Comprehensive income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 42,125	$ 20,016	$ 7,124