Stock-based Compensation Expense Summary of Restricted Stock Award and Restricted Stock Unit Activity (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014		Oct. 31, 2013
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Performance shares units payout	65.80%		92.30%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares
Unvested Restricted Stock Units
Unvested restricted stock units at January 31, 2014 (shares)	6,515,600
Granted (shares)	3,572,000
Vested (shares)	(2,062,500)
Canceled/Forfeited (shares)	(380,700)
Unvested restricted stock units at October 31, 2014 (shares)	7,569,700
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Unvested restricted stock units at January 31, 2014 (usd per share)	$ 39.15
Granted (in usd per share)	$ 52.89		$ 40.64
Vested (in usd per share)	$ 38.10
Canceled/Forfeited (in usd per share)	$ 40.53
Unvested restricted stock units at October 31, 2014 (usd per share)	$ 45.96
Performance Stock Unit
Unvested Restricted Stock Units
Granted (shares)	500,000
Performance adjustment (shares)	(74,700)	[1]
Unvested restricted stock units at October 31, 2014 (shares)	900,000
Weighted average grant date fair value per share
Performance adjustment (in usd per share)	$ 42.23	[1]

[1] Based on Autodesk's financial results for both the fiscal 2013 and 2014 performance period. The performance stock units were earned at 92.3% and 65.8% of the target award for granted in fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2014, respectively.