Net Income per Share - Schedule of calculation of numerator and denominator in earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Raven Industries, Inc.	$ 41,022	$ 20,191	$ 4,776
Denominator:
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	35,945,225	36,142,416	37,237,717
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	104,980	100,019	86,745
Denominator for basic calculation (in shares)	36,050,205	36,242,435	37,324,462
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	35,945,225	36,142,416	37,237,717
Weighted average stock units outstanding (in shares)	104,980	100,019	86,745
Dilutive impact of stock options and RSUs (in shares)	399,620	129,480	75,481
Denominator for diluted calculation (in shares)	36,449,825	36,371,915	37,399,943
Net income per share - basic (in usd per share)	$ 1.14	$ 0.56	$ 0.13
Net income per share - diluted (in usd per share)	$ 1.13	$ 0.56	$ 0.13