Incentive Plans and Stock-Based Compensation (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 23, 2009 Stock Options [Member]	Dec. 01, 2012 Stock Options [Member]	Dec. 03, 2011 Stock Options [Member]	Nov. 27, 2010 Stock Options [Member]	Mar. 02, 2013 Stock Options [Member] Issuance of Stock Based Awards [Member]	Dec. 01, 2012 Stock Options [Member] Issuance of Stock Based Awards [Member]	Dec. 01, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Dec. 03, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Nov. 27, 2010 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Mar. 02, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] Issuance of Stock Based Awards [Member]	Dec. 01, 2012 Directors' Restricted Stock [Member]	Dec. 01, 2012 Employee Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized	3,800,000
Number of years which shares can be granted under the Plan		10 years
Incentive Plan End Date	Dec. 01, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Policy for Issuing Shares upon Exercise	Upon share option exercise or restricted stock unit award conversion, the Company issues new shares unless treasury shares are available
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Description		Nonqualified stock options are granted at exercise prices equal to the market price of CLARCOR common stock at the date of grant, which is the date the Company’s Board of Directors approves the grant and the participants receive it.  The Company’s Board of Directors determines the vesting requirements for stock options at the time of grant and may accelerate vesting
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights		vest 25% per year beginning at the end of the first year; therefore, they become fully exercisable at the end of four years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period		4 years					4 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Terms of Award		Vesting may be accelerated in the event of retirement, disability or death of a participant or change in control of the Company.  Options granted to non-employee directors vest immediately					The restricted stock unit awards require no payment from the employee.  Compensation cost is recorded based on the market price of the stock on the grant date and is recorded equally over the vesting period of four years.  During the vesting period, officers and key employees receive cash compensation equal to the amount of dividends declared on common shares they would have been entitled to receive had the shares been issued.  Upon vesting, employees may elect to defer receipt of their shares				The incentive plans provide for grants of shares of common stock to all non-employee directors equal to a one-year annual retainer in lieu of cash at the directors’ option. The directors’ rights to the shares vest immediately on the date of grant; however, the shares cannot be sold for a six-month period from the date of grant
Unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based awards which the Company expects to recognize		$ 5,075					$ 997
Weighted-average period in years, over which the Company expects to recognize compensation cost related to share-based arrangements		2 years 4 months 28 days					2 years 4 months 24 days
Granted		512,850	494,750	482,510	385,000
Weighted Average Exercise Price - Granted		$ 49.84	$ 43.00	$ 32.69		$ 45.19
Restricted Stock Unit Awards - Shares Vested And Deferred							131,197	103,390
Granted							29,839	29,467	34,128	23,624
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value - Granted							$ 49.91	$ 42.86	$ 32.30	$ 45.19
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Discount												5.00%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Description												Effective January 1, 2006, the plan was amended to be in compliance with safe harbor rules so that the plan is not compensatory, and no expense is recognized related to the plan
Expiration period and term of equity award in years		10 years