Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	CLARCOR Inc. [Member]	Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests [Member]	Stock Options [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Stock Options [Member] CLARCOR Inc. [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] Retained Earnings [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] CLARCOR Inc. [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests [Member]
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, beginning of period at Nov. 27, 2010	$ 757,527	$ 50,335	$ 33,698	$ (35,041)	$ 707,478	$ 756,470	$ 1,057
Common stock, shares outstanding, beginning of period at Nov. 27, 2010		50,334,776
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	124,351	0	0	0	124,003	124,003	348
Other comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	(9,603)	0	0	(9,350)	0	(9,350)	(253)
Changes in noncontrolling interests ownership	(321)	0	0	0	0	0	(321)
Stock options exercised, shares		439,582						774,661
Stock options exercised, value	3,384	440	2,944	0	0	3,384	0
Tax benefit applicable to stock options	5,100	0	5,100	0	0	5,100	0	5,100
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans, shares		54,346
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans, value	2,001	54	1,947	0	0	2,001	0
Purchase and retire stock, shares	(683,776)	(683,776)
Purchase and retire stock, value	(29,317)	(684)	(28,633)	0	0	(29,317)	0
Stock option expense	4,397	0	4,397	0	0	4,397	0
Cash dividends	(21,961)	0	0	0	(21,961)	(21,961)	0
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, end of period at Dec. 03, 2011	835,558	50,145	19,453	(44,391)	809,520	834,727	831
Common stock, shares outstanding, end of period at Dec. 03, 2011		50,144,928
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	123,101	0	0	0	122,986	122,986	115
Other comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	(7,277)	0	0	(7,317)	0	(7,317)	40
Stock options exercised, shares		248,374						353,793
Stock options exercised, value	3,682	248	3,434	0	0	3,682	0
Tax benefit applicable to stock options	2,007	0	2,007	0	0	2,007	0	2,007
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans, shares		52,316
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans, value	1,868	53	1,815	0	0	1,868	0
Purchase and retire stock, shares	(792,881)	(792,881)
Purchase and retire stock, value	(37,320)	(793)	(31,516)	0	(5,011)	(37,320)	0
Stock option expense	4,997	0	4,997	0	0	4,997	0
Other	125	0	(190)	0	315	125	0
Cash dividends	(24,911)	0	0	0	(24,911)	(24,911)	0
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, end of period at Dec. 01, 2012	901,830	49,653	0	(51,708)	902,899	900,844	986
Common stock, shares outstanding, end of period at Dec. 01, 2012		49,652,737
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	118,333	0	0	0	118,076	118,076	257
Other comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	21,882	0	0	21,894	0	21,894	(12)
Stock options exercised, shares		1,128,310						1,191,752
Stock options exercised, value	32,800	1,128	31,672	0	0	32,800	0
Tax benefit applicable to stock options								7,231	0	7,231	0	0	7,231	0	1,280	0	1,280	0	0	1,280	0
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans, shares		123,594
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans, value	2,963	124	2,839	0	0	2,963	0
Purchase and retire stock, shares	(534,100)	(534,100)
Purchase and retire stock, value	(27,708)	(534)	(23,956)	0	(3,218)	(27,708)	0
Stock option expense	3,212	0	3,212	0	0	3,212	0
Cash dividends	(28,950)	0	0	0	(28,744)	(28,744)	(206)
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, end of period at Nov. 30, 2013	$ 1,032,873	$ 50,371	$ 22,278	$ (29,814)	$ 989,013	$ 1,031,848	$ 1,025
Common stock, shares outstanding, end of period at Nov. 30, 2013		50,370,541