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	10,013				10,012		10,012	1
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	347					347	347
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(4)					(4)	(4)
Cash dividends	(9,388)		108		(9,496)		(9,388)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	40	0	0		0		0	40
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(256)	35	(291)				(256)
Director shares issued	$ 0	19	(19)				0
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	484,252			484,000
Shares repurchased	$ (7,702)			$ (7,702)			(7,702)
Share-based compensation	1,574	0	1,574				1,574
Income tax impact related to share-based compensation	(317)		(317)				(317)
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2016	$ 258,456	67,060	54,962	$ (90,402)	229,959	(3,158)	258,421	35
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2016	30,984,000			30,984,000
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	$ 20,582				20,583		20,583	(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	822					822	822
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(13)					(13)	(13)
Cash dividends	(9,384)		109		(9,493)		(9,384)
Stock issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(148)	12	(160)				(148)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(151)	11	(162)				(151)
Director shares issued	$ 0	4	(4)				0
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	0
Share-based compensation	$ 1,932	0	1,932				1,932
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2017	$ 273,071	$ 67,087	$ 57,510	$ (90,402)	$ 241,739	$ (2,867)	$ 273,067	$ 4
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2017	30,984,000			30,984,000