TIBCO Software Inc. Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Mar. 29, 2012 April 2012 Plan	Nov. 30, 2012 April 2012 Plan	Dec. 31, 2010 December 2010 Plan	Jan. 20, 2013 December 2010 Plan	Nov. 30, 2012 December 2012 Plan	Nov. 30, 2012 Retained Earnings	Nov. 30, 2011 Retained Earnings	Nov. 30, 2010 Retained Earnings	Nov. 30, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock	Nov. 30, 2012 Restricted Stock	Nov. 30, 2011 Restricted Stock
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares authorized	75,000,000											25,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 0.001
Preferred stock, shares issued	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0
Stock right exercise ratio	0.001
Common stock, shares authorized	1,200,000,000	1,200,000,000
Common stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock, shares issued	163,698,000	166,287,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	163,698,000	166,287,000
Restricted stock, shares	9,420,000	9,212,000											3,127,000	3,443,000
Preferred stock right, expiration date	March 5, 2014
Percentage of outstanding shares of common stock acquired	15.00%
Preferred stock right, exercise price	$ 70
Preferred stock right triggering threshold	50.00%
Preferred stock right, common stock valuation equivalent	one share of our common stock per Right
Preferred stock right, redemption price	$ 0.001
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount				$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Stock repurchase program remaining authorized repurchase amount, cancelled								38,400,000
Remaining repurchase amount authorized from new program					147,300,000
Shares repurchased							1,000,000
Average price per share	$ 28.96	$ 26.55	$ 13.54				$ 21.87
Common stock repurchased and retired	$ 220,265,000	$ 194,059,000	$ 204,280,000						$ 85,665,000	$ 99,664,000	$ 116,608,000