Net Income per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 8,235	$ 4,495	$ 20,583	$ 10,012
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,096,048	36,097,228	36,088,095	36,208,573
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding (in shares)	109,146	110,083	103,966	102,035
Denominator for basic calculation (in shares)	36,205,194	36,207,311	36,192,061	36,310,608
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	36,096,048	36,097,228	36,088,095	36,208,573
Weighted average fully vested stock units outstanding (in shares)	109,146	110,083	103,966	102,035
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted units (in shares)	348,795	43,001	322,661	51,547
Denominator for diluted calculation (in shares)	36,553,989	36,250,312	36,514,722	36,362,155
Net income per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.12	$ 0.57	$ 0.28
Net income per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.12	$ 0.56	$ 0.28