Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Apr. 07, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	MIND
Entity Registrant Name	MITCHAM INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000926423
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,090,476
Entity Public Float			$ 45,456,000