Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ 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, 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	12,348				12,348		12,348	0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	12					12	12
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(6)					(6)	(6)
Cash dividends	(4,691)		56		(4,747)		(4,691)
Stock issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	11	1	10				11
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(152)	11	(163)				(152)
Share-based compensation	791	0	791				791
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2017	267,744	67,072	56,489	$ (90,402)	238,250	(3,670)	267,739	5
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2017				30,984
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2018	$ 276,066	67,124	59,143	$ (100,402)	252,772	(2,573)	276,064	2
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2018	31,332			31,332
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 22,147				22,135		22,135	12
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(480)					(480)	(480)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(6)					(6)	(6)
Reclassification due to ASU 2018-02 adoption	0				280	(280)	0
Cash dividends	(4,658)		50		(4,708)		(4,658)
Stock issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(117)	12	(129)				(117)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(653)	41	(694)				(653)
Share-based compensation	787	0	787				787
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2018	$ 293,086	$ 67,177	$ 59,157	$ (100,402)	$ 270,479	$ (3,339)	$ 293,072	$ 14
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2018	31,332			31,332