Acquisitions of and Investments in Businesses and Technologies (Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Condensed Financial Results of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 408,906	$ 431,917
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 34,424	$ 45,747
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.90	$ 1.20
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.90	$ 1.20

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

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