Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2010	Feb. 28, 2010	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Nov. 30, 2009
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 289,511	$ 228,973	$ 216,421	$ 185,341	$ 241,217	$ 184,476	$ 173,270	$ 155,044	$ 920,246	$ 754,007	$ 621,388
Gross profit	220,164	165,619	154,694	132,394	183,400	134,427	125,943	112,444	672,871	556,214	462,336
Total operating expenses	149,919	129,031	125,965	113,529	126,659	107,808	109,716	96,876	518,444	441,059	373,734
Income from operations	70,245	36,588	28,729	18,865	56,741	26,619	16,227	15,568	154,427	115,155	88,602
Provision for income taxes	17,504	11,800	6,000	1,996	18,065	7,536	2,682	4,118	37,300	32,401	27,097
Net income attributable to TIBCO Software Inc.	$ 51,878	$ 23,529	$ 21,046	$ 15,953	$ 37,494	$ 17,355	$ 12,814	$ 10,425	$ 112,406	$ 78,088	$ 62,302
Net income per share attributable to TIBCO Software Inc., Basic	$ 0.32	$ 0.15	$ 0.13	$ 0.10	$ 0.23	$ 0.11	$ 0.08	$ 0.06	$ 0.70	$ 0.49	$ 0.37
Net income per share attributable to TIBCO Software Inc., Diluted	$ 0.30	$ 0.14	$ 0.12	$ 0.09	$ 0.22	$ 0.10	$ 0.08	$ 0.06	$ 0.65	$ 0.46	$ 0.36
Shares used in computing net income per share attributable to TIBCO Software Inc., Basic	161,586	161,876	161,911	160,503	160,013	160,238	160,992	162,593	161,469	160,959	168,970
Shares used in computing net income per share attributable to TIBCO Software Inc., Diluted	171,978	172,957	174,666	173,486	172,899	171,192	169,975	169,745	173,272	170,953	172,328