Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ 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, 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
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)
Shares 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
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
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2018	$ 276,066	67,124	59,143	$ (100,402)	252,772	(2,573)	276,064	2
Treasury stock at beginning of period (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2018	31,332			31,332
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 35,868				35,812		35,812	56
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(837)					(837)	(837)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(12)					(12)	(12)
Reclassification due to ASU 2018-02 adoption	0				280	(280)	0
Cash dividends	(9,326)		100		(9,426)		(9,326)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(679)	42	(721)				(679)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(1,251)	63	(1,314)				(1,251)
Share-based compensation	2,281	0	2,281				2,281
Balance at end of period at Jul. 31, 2018	$ 302,110	$ 67,229	$ 59,489	$ (100,402)	$ 279,438	$ (3,702)	$ 302,052	$ 58
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2018	31,332			31,332