Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	$1 Par Common Stock [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Raven Industries, Inc. Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interest [Member]	redeemable noncontrolling interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2019	$ 308,957	$ 67,289	$ 59,655	$ (100,402)	$ (3,556)	$ 285,969	$ 308,955	$ 2
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	13,210					13,210	13,210	0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(304)				(304)		(304)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(12)				(12)		(12)
Cash dividends	(4,682)		47			(4,729)	(4,682)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(667)	26	(693)				(667)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(2,320)	102	(2,422)				(2,320)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	(2,281)			(2,281)			(2,281)
Share-based compensation	782		782				782
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2019	$ 312,683	67,417	57,369	(102,683)	(3,872)	294,450	312,681	2
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.13
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, Tax	$ 4
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Beginning Balance at Jan. 31, 2019									$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income									0
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Ending Balance at Apr. 30, 2019									0
Balance at beginning of period at Jan. 31, 2020	314,646	67,436	61,508	(111,183)	(5,415)	302,300	314,646	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	3,949
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	4,047					4,047	4,047	0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment	(2,579)				(2,579)		(2,579)
Postretirement benefits reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) after tax (expense) benefit	(3)				(3)		(3)
Reclassification and Redeption of Noncontrolling Interest (see Note 6)	215		215				215
Cash dividends	(4,658)		90			(4,748)	(4,658)
Shares issued on stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(113)	11	(124)				(113)
Shares issued on vesting of stock units, net of shares withheld for employee taxes	(627)	53	(680)				(627)
Share-based compensation	1,496		1,496				1,496
Balance at end of period at Apr. 30, 2020	$ 312,424	$ 67,500	$ 62,505	$ (111,183)	$ (7,997)	$ 301,599	$ 312,424	$ 0
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.13
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, after Reclassification Adjustment, Tax	$ 1
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Beginning Balance at Jan. 31, 2020									21,302
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income									(98)
Recalassification and Redemption of Noncontrolling Interest (see Note 6)									(21,204)
Temporary Equity, Carrying Amount, Ending Balance at Apr. 30, 2020									$ 0