Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Total shareholders' equity, beginning balance at Jan. 31, 2012	$ 180,590	$ 32,566	$ 9,607	$ (53,362)	$ 193,650	$ (1,962)	$ 180,499	$ 91
Treasury stock, beginning balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2012				(14,449)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	52,555				52,545		52,545	10
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(133)					(133)	(133)
Cash dividends	(15,244)		63		(15,307)		(15,244)
Director shares issued	0						0
Two-for-one stock split		32,598	(7,405)		(25,193)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(2,251)	(36)	(2,215)				(2,251)
Employees' stock options exercised	2,598	95	2,503				2,598
Share-based compensation	3,075		3,075				3,075
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	257		257				257
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2013	221,447	65,223	5,885	(53,362)	205,695	(2,095)	221,346	101
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2013	(28,897)			(28,897)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	42,902				42,903		42,903	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(84)					(84)	(84)
Cash dividends	(17,465)		104		(17,569)		(17,465)
Two-for-one stock split, shares				(14,448)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(2,105)	(64)	(2,041)				(2,105)
Employees' stock options exercised	2,270	159	2,111				2,270
Share-based compensation	4,198	0	4,198				4,198
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	299		299				299
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2014	251,462	65,318	10,556	(53,362)	231,029	(2,179)	251,362	100
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2014	(28,897)			(28,897)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	31,796				31,733		31,733	63
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(3,670)					(3,670)	(3,670)
Cash dividends	(18,440)		142		(18,582)		(18,440)
Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest	(79)							(79)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	39,214	1,542	37,672				39,214
Director shares issued		18	(18)
Stock surrendered upon exercie of stock options	(1,087)	(37)	(1,050)				(1,087)
Employees' stock options exercised	1,728	106	1,622				1,728
Share-based compensation	4,213	0	4,213				4,213
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	100		100				100
Total shareholders' equity, ending balance at Jan. 31, 2015	$ 305,237	$ 66,947	$ 53,237	$ (53,362)	$ 244,180	$ (5,849)	$ 305,153	$ 84
Treasury stock, ending balance, shares at Jan. 31, 2015	(28,897)			(28,897)