Reduction in Additional Paid In Capital As Result Of Common Stock Repurchases

No definition available.

Name:	urbn_ReductionInAdditionalPaidInCapitalAsResultOfCommonStockRepurchases
Namespace Prefix:	urbn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityClassOfTreasuryStockLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased and retired during the period. The excess of the purchase price over par value can be charged against retained earnings (once the excess is fully allocated to additional paid in capital).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=urbn_FebruaryTwoThousandFifteenAuthorizedAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=urbn_MayTwoThousandFourteenAuthorizedAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=urbn_ShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Shareholder's Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Jun. 09, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 23, 2015	May 27, 2014	Aug. 27, 2013
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Common shares authorized for repurchase, shares					20,000,000	10,000,000	10,000,000
Stock repurchased and retired during period, common shares		9,699,700
Stock repurchased and retired during period, total cost		$ 353,315
Average cost per share		$ 36.43
Stock repurchased during period, common shares	0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Additional paid-in-capital reduction related to shares repurchased	25,282
Subsequent Event
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchased and retired during period, common shares			3,539,000
Stock repurchased and retired during period, total cost			124,203
Average cost per share			$ 35.10
Employee Stock
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchased and retired during period, common shares	180,776	1,690
Stock repurchased and retired during period, total cost	7,976	61
New Share Repurchase Program
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchased and retired during period, common shares	401,977			7,718,531
Stock repurchased and retired during period, total cost	$ 17,306			$ 258,160
Average cost per share	$ 43.05			$ 33.45
May 27, 2014 Authorization \| Subsequent Event
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchased and retired during period, common shares			1,879,492
February 23, 2015 Authorization \| Subsequent Event
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchased and retired during period, common shares			1,659,508