Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	$1 Par Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2018	$ 276,066	$ 67,124	$ 59,143	$ (100,402)	$ (2,573)	$ 252,772	$ 276,064	$ 2
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2018				31,332,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	48,924					48,844	48,844	80
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(1,162)				(1,162)		(1,162)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(18)				(18)		(18)
Reclassification due to ASU 2018-02 adoption	0				(280)	280	0
Cash dividends	(14,000)		151			(14,151)	(14,000)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(2,635)	113	(2,748)				(2,635)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (774)	48	(822)				(774)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	0
Share-based compensation	$ 3,108		3,108				3,108
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2018	309,509	67,285	58,832	$ (100,402)	(4,033)	287,745	309,427	82
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2018				31,332,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jul. 31, 2018	302,110	67,229	59,489	$ (100,402)	(3,702)	279,438	302,052	58
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2018				31,332,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	13,056					13,032	13,032	24
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(325)				(325)		(325)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(6)				(6)		(6)
Cash dividends	(4,674)		51			(4,725)	(4,674)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(1,384)	50	(1,434)				(1,384)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (95)	6	(101)				(95)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	0
Share-based compensation	$ 827		827				827
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2018	309,509	67,285	58,832	$ (100,402)	(4,033)	287,745	309,427	82
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2018				31,332,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2019	308,957	67,289	59,655	$ (100,402)	(3,556)	285,969	308,955	2
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2019				31,332,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	31,909					31,910	31,910	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(343)				(343)		(343)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(37)				(37)		(37)
Cash dividends	(14,001)		146			(14,147)	(14,001)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(706)	29	(735)				(706)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (2,358)	106	(2,464)				(2,358)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	332,651			333,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (10,781)			$ (10,781)			(10,781)
Share-based compensation	3,539	0	3,539				3,539
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2019	316,179	67,424	60,141	$ (111,183)	(3,936)	303,732	316,178	1
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2019				31,665,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jul. 31, 2019	314,978	67,420	59,127	$ (106,183)	(3,884)	298,496	314,976	2
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2019				31,496,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	9,933					9,934	9,934	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(40)				(40)		(40)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(12)				(12)		(12)
Cash dividends	(4,648)		50			(4,698)	(4,648)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	15		15				15
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (38)	4	(42)				(38)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	169,474			169,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (5,000)			$ (5,000)			(5,000)
Share-based compensation	991		991				991
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2019	$ 316,179	$ 67,424	$ 60,141	$ (111,183)	$ (3,936)	$ 303,732	$ 316,178	$ 1
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2019				31,665,000