Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Assumption Used to Estimate the Fair Value of Stock-Based Awards (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014		Jan. 31, 2013		Jan. 31, 2012
Performance Stock Unit
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	[1]
Range of expected volatilities	34.00%	[1]
Range of risk-free interest rates	0.10%	[1]
Performance Stock Unit | Minimum
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Expected forfeitures	7.20%	[1]
Performance Stock Unit | Maximum
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Expected forfeitures	7.70%	[1]
Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan 1998 ESP Plan
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%		0.00%		0.00%
Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan 1998 ESP Plan | Minimum
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Range of expected volatilities	27.00%		41.00%		34.00%
Range of expected lives	6 months		6 months		6 months
Range of risk-free interest rates	0.10%		0.10%		0.10%
Expected forfeitures	7.20%		7.70%		7.80%
Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan 1998 ESP Plan | Maximum
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Range of expected volatilities	36.00%		44.00%		44.00%
Range of expected lives	2 years		2 years		2 years
Range of risk-free interest rates	0.40%		0.30%		0.80%
Expected forfeitures	7.70%		7.80%		10.50%
Stock Options Plan
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate			0.00%	[2]	0.00%	[2]
Stock Options Plan | Minimum
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Range of expected volatilities			41.00%	[2]	40.00%	[2]
Range of expected lives			3 years 7 months 6 days	[2]	2 years 7 months 6 days	[2]
Range of risk-free interest rates			0.50%	[2]	0.50%	[2]
Expected forfeitures			7.70%	[2]	7.80%	[2]
Stock Options Plan | Maximum
Share based Compensation Arrangement by Share based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Method Used [Line Items]
Range of expected volatilities			45.00%	[2]	49.00%	[2]
Range of expected lives			4 years 7 months 6 days	[2]	4 years 9 months 18 days	[2]
Range of risk-free interest rates			0.80%	[2]	1.90%	[2]
Expected forfeitures			7.80%	[2]	10.50%	[2]

[1] Autodesk did not grant PSUs in fiscal 2013 and 2012 that were subject to market conditions.

[2] Autodesk did not grant stock options in fiscal 2014.