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, 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	32,579				32,581		32,581	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	637					637	637
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(19)					(19)	(19)
Cash dividends	(14,032)		164		(14,196)		(14,032)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(157)	13	(170)				(157)
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	348,286			348,000
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ 10,000			$ 10,000			10,000
Share-based compensation	2,861		2,861				2,861
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2017	271,149	67,088	58,484	$ (100,402)	249,034	(3,058)	271,146	3
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2017				31,332,000
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	31,332,000			31,332,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 48,924				48,844		48,844	80
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(1,162)					(1,162)	(1,162)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(18)					(18)	(18)
Reclassification due to ASU 2018-02 adoption	0				280	(280)	0
Cash dividends	(14,000)		151		(14,151)		(14,000)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(2,635)	113	(2,748)				(2,635)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	$ (774)	48	(822)				(774)
Shares repurchased, Treasury Stock	0
Share-based compensation	$ 3,108	0	3,108				3,108
Balance at end of period at Oct. 31, 2018	$ 309,509	$ 67,285	$ 58,832	$ (100,402)	$ 287,745	$ (4,033)	$ 309,427	$ 82
Treasury stock at end of period (in shares) at Oct. 31, 2018	31,332,000			31,332,000