Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ 20.5	$ 7.2
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	16.1	16.4
Gain on sale of business	(6.0)
Non-cash stock compensation expense	2.3	2.1
Deferred income taxes		0.8
Provision for obsolete inventories		2.5
Provision for doubtful accounts	(1.2)	0.6
Other	1.6	1.5
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Current assets	(13.4)	(62.9)
Current liabilities	5.8	21.3
Other non-current assets	(12.3)	(1.6)
Other non-current liabilities	5.8	(11.8)
Discontinued operations	3.1	(0.2)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities	22.3	(24.1)
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(10.2)	(10.7)
Proceeds from asset sale		1.0
Proceeds from sale of business	12.4
Acquisitions of businesses, less cash acquired		(271.6)
Restricted cash		253.2
Discontinued operations		(0.3)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities	2.2	(28.4)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from borrowings		198.7
Repayment of debt obligations	(1.0)	(142.6)
Short-term debt (payments), net	(0.2)	1.4
Payments for deferred financing fees		(10.3)
Payments received from the exercise of stock options	1.4	2.4
Other		2.4
Restricted cash	(1.3)
Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Financing Activities	(1.1)	49.6
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	5.6	6.2
Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash And Cash Equivalents	29.0	3.3
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	98.9	71.2
Cash And Cash Equivalents At End Of Period	127.9	74.5
OMNOVA Solutions (Parent)
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	20.5	7.2
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8.2	8.2
Gain on sale of business	(6.0)
Non-cash stock compensation expense	2.3	2.1
Deferred income taxes	0.7
Provision for obsolete inventories	0.3	0.5
Provision for doubtful accounts	(0.9)
Other	1.6	1.4
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Current assets	(11.3)	(29.3)
Current liabilities	15.3	(0.9)
Other non-current assets	(1.4)	(230.3)
Other non-current liabilities	(1.0)	(40.2)
Discontinued operations	5.2	(0.3)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities	33.5	(281.6)
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(6.3)	(6.1)
Proceeds from sale of business	12.4
Acquisitions of businesses, less cash acquired		(21.5)
Restricted cash		253.2
Discontinued operations		(0.2)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities	6.1	225.4
Financing Activities
Proceeds from borrowings		198.7
Repayment of debt obligations	(1.0)	(142.6)
Payments for deferred financing fees		(10.3)
Payments received from the exercise of stock options	1.4
Other		2.4
Restricted cash	(1.3)
Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Financing Activities	(0.9)	48.2
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1.0	(1.6)
Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash And Cash Equivalents	39.7	(9.6)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	55.1	49.6
Cash And Cash Equivalents At End Of Period	94.8	40.0
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	7.5	5.5
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Current assets		(0.1)
Current liabilities	(0.4)	(0.1)
Other non-current assets	(7.5)	(4.5)
Other non-current liabilities	(0.3)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities	(0.7)	0.8
Investing Activities
Acquisitions of businesses, less cash acquired		(146.1)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities		(146.1)
Financing Activities
Other		143.6
Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Financing Activities		143.6
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0.7	1.7
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	7.6	4.5
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7.9	8.2
Deferred income taxes	(0.7)	1.7
Provision for obsolete inventories	(0.3)	2.0
Provision for doubtful accounts	(0.3)	0.6
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Current assets	(2.5)	(25.4)
Current liabilities	(15.1)	12.2
Other non-current assets	7.3	(50.4)
Other non-current liabilities	(12.6)	156.8
Discontinued operations	(2.1)	0.1
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities	(10.8)	110.3
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(3.9)	(4.6)
Proceeds from asset sale		1.0
Acquisitions of businesses, less cash acquired		(103.9)
Discontinued operations		(0.1)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities	(3.9)	(107.6)
Financing Activities
Short-term debt (payments), net	(0.2)	1.4
Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Financing Activities	(0.2)	1.4
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	4.2	8.8
Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash And Cash Equivalents	(10.7)	12.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	43.8	21.6
Cash And Cash Equivalents At End Of Period	33.1	34.5
Eliminations
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	(15.1)	(10.0)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Deferred income taxes		(0.9)
Other		0.1
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Current assets	0.4	(8.1)
Current liabilities	6.0	10.1
Other non-current assets	(10.7)	283.6
Other non-current liabilities	19.7	(128.4)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities	0.3	146.4
Investing Activities
Acquisitions of businesses, less cash acquired		(0.1)
Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities		(0.1)
Financing Activities
Other		(143.6)
Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Financing Activities		(143.6)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	$ (0.3)	$ (2.7)