Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 10, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	MIND
Entity Registrant Name	MITCHAM INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000926423
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,797,576