Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	$1 Par Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2016	$ 264,229	$ 67,006	$ 53,907	$ (82,700)	$ 229,443	$ (3,501)	$ 264,155	$ 74
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2016				30,500,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	5,519				5,517		5,517	2
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	612					612	612
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(2)					(2)	(2)
Cash dividends	(4,701)		52		(4,753)		(4,701)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (256)	35	(291)				(256)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	382,065			382,000
Shares repurchased	$ (5,702)			$ (5,702)			(5,702)
Share-based compensation	456	0	456				456
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(292)		(292)				(292)
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2016	$ 259,863	67,041	53,832	$ (88,402)	230,207	(2,891)	259,787	76
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2016	30,882,000			30,882,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2017	$ 259,431	67,060	55,795	$ (90,402)	230,649	(3,676)	259,426	5
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2017	30,984,000			30,984,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 12,348				12,348		12,348	0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	12					12	12
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(6)					(6)	(6)
Cash dividends	(4,691)		56		(4,747)		(4,691)
Stock issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	11	1	10				11
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (152)	11	(163)				(152)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	0
Share-based compensation	$ 791	0	791				791
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2017	$ 267,744	$ 67,072	$ 56,489	$ (90,402)	$ 238,250	$ (3,670)	$ 267,739	$ 5
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2017	30,984,000			30,984,000