Acquistions and Divestitures (Details) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Sep. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 USD ($)	Aug. 27, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Aug. 27, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2011 USD ($)	May 28, 2011 Liquamelt Corp. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($) number	Aug. 27, 2011 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($) number	Aug. 27, 2011 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] CHF	Sep. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Developed technology [Member] USD ($) number	Sep. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($) number	Sep. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($) number	Sep. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Other intangibles [Member] USD ($) number
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total acquisition cost								$ 404,725		$ 404,725		370,000
Total purchase price net of cash acquired				404,725	6,000		6,000
Acquisition related costs							118
Purchase price allocation [Abstract]
Current assets								187,414		187,414
Property, plant and equipment								94,990		94,990
Goodwill								134,568		134,568
Other intangibles, net								121,690		121,690			42,190	57,140	21,880	480
Other assets acquired								168		168
Current liabilities								(97,326)		(97,326)
Other liabilities								(36,779)		(36,779)
Total purchase price								404,725		404,725		370,000
Expected life of acquired intangibles in years															8	3
Minimum expected life of acquired intangibles in years													7	12
Maximum expected life of acquired intangibles in years													12	13
Goodwill Deductible For Tax Purposes Over Five Years								3,060		3,060
Goodwill Deductible For Tax Purposes Over Fifteen Years								25,392
Goodwill Non Deductible For Tax Purposes								106,116		106,116
Acquisition Related Financing [Abstract]
Senior Noted, Series E								250,000
Interest Rate on Senior Notes, Series E								4.12%		4.12%
Proceeds from long-term debt				584,208	167,000			150,000
Interest rate on term loan								1.75%		1.75%
Net revenue of acquired business	500,535		363,071	1,372,984	1,042,540
Net revenue from acquisition								138,027		283,397
Segment operating income	42,969		30,961	114,222	81,380			0
Acquisition and integration special charges	4,654		0	43,263	0			4,024		35,064
Business combination pro forma [Abstract]
Pro forma revenue								500,535	511,481	1,505,848	1,478,693
Pro forma income from continuing operations								24,607	23,570	46,966	59,693
Pro forma net income attributable to H.B. Fuller								83,268	24,613	104,201	64,353
Pro forma diluted earnings per share from continuing operations								$ 0.48	$ 0.47	$ 0.93	$ 1.20
Pro forma diluted earnings per share								$ 1.64	$ 0.49	$ 2.06	$ 1.29
Acquired Inventory Fair Value Adjustment								2,406		2,406
Discontinued Operations Information [Line Items]
Cash proceeds	118,566
Sales price	120,000
Purchase price adjustments	1,434
Settlement of intercompany debt in cash proceeds	25,325
Gain on sales net of taxes	51,680
Direct internal costs to sell	4,638
Deferred gain - gross	5,000			5,000
Deferred gain net of tax	3,135
Discontinued operations income statement items [Abstract]
Net revenue	17,014		24,686	73,143	78,486
Income from operations	1,573		1,331	8,235	7,173
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	66,675		0	66,675	0
Income taxes	(9,532)		(117)	(17,524)	(2,759)
Net Income (loss) from discontinued operations	58,716		1,214	57,386	4,414
Tax on the gain on sale of discontinued operations		5,766		14,995
Discontinued operations balance sheet items
Cash and cash equivalents	0			0		1,500
Trade receivables, net	0			0		26,852
Inventories	0			0		19,549
Other current assets	0			0		4,583
Current assets of discontinued operations	0			0		52,484
Property, pland and equipment, net	0			0		13,296
Other assets	1,865			1,865		3,563
Long-term assets of discontinued operations	1,865			1,865		16,859
Trade payables	87			87		11,936
Income taxes payable	18,630			18,630		4,567
Other accrued expenses	25			25		6,097
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	18,742			18,742		22,600
Accrued pension liabilities	0			0		1,288
Other liabilities	5,000			5,000		1,456
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations	$ 5,000			$ 5,000		$ 2,744