Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 26, 2016	Jan. 06, 2017	May 28, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000010329
Trading Symbol	bset
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--11-26
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		10,722,947
Entity Public Float			$ 305,120,055
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Nov. 26, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false