Note 13 - Segment Information - Wholesale Shipments by Type (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 25, 2018
Sales revenue		$ 109,419	$ 112,956	$ 338,450	$ 340,208
Wholesale Segment [Member]
Sales revenue		$ 62,690	$ 63,847	$ 198,602	$ 190,735
Sales, revenue, percent		100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Wholesale Segment [Member] | Upholstery [Member]
Sales revenue		$ 36,809	$ 35,186	$ 115,200	$ 105,259
Sales, revenue, percent		58.70%	55.10%	58.00%	55.20%
Wholesale Segment [Member] | Bassett Leather [Member]
Sales revenue		$ 4,480	$ 4,748	$ 14,714	$ 16,356
Sales, revenue, percent		7.10%	7.40%	7.40%	8.60%
Wholesale Segment [Member] | Bassett Custom Wood [Member]
Sales revenue		$ 11,757	$ 11,273	$ 33,958	$ 33,443
Sales, revenue, percent		18.80%	17.70%	17.10%	17.50%
Wholesale Segment [Member] | Bassett Casegoods [Member]
Sales revenue		$ 9,644	$ 11,710	$ 32,263	$ 32,455
Sales, revenue, percent		15.40%	18.30%	16.20%	17.00%
Wholesale Segment [Member] | Accessories [Member]
Sales revenue	[1]	$ 0	$ 930	$ 2,467	$ 3,222
Sales, revenue, percent	[1]	0.00%	1.50%	1.20%	1.70%

[1] Beginning with the third quarter of fiscal 2019, our wholesale segment no longer purchases accessory items for resale to our retail segment or to third party customers such as licensees or independent furniture retailers. Our retail segment and third party customers now source their accessory items directly from the accessory vendors.