Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2012	Dec. 01, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011	Dec. 03, 2011	Nov. 27, 2010	Nov. 27, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Income
Net revenue		$ 1,886,239		$ 1,444,085		$ 1,256,825
Cost of sales		(1,368,963)		(1,040,253)		(898,654)
Gross profit		517,276		403,832		358,171
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(354,735)		(286,871)		(263,551)
Special charges, net		(52,467)		(7,499)		0
Asset impairment charges		(1,517)		(332)		(8,785)
Other income (expense), net		784		4,101		1,197
Interest expense		(19,793)		(10,811)		(10,414)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income from equity method investments		89,548		102,420		76,618
Income taxes		(30,479)		(31,211)		(20,333)
Income from equity method investments		9,218		9,006		8,008
Income from continuing operations		68,287		80,215		64,293
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		57,568		8,832		6,126
Net income including non-controlling interests		125,855		89,047		70,419
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests		(233)		58		458
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller		$ 125,622		$ 89,105		$ 70,877
Earnings per share attributable to H.B. Fuller common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations - basic	$ 1.37		$ 1.64		$ 1.33
Income from discontinued operations - basic	$ 1.16		$ 0.18		$ 0.13
Basic earnings per share	$ 2.53		$ 1.82		$ 1.46
Income from continuing operations - diluted	$ 1.34		$ 1.61		$ 1.31
Income from discontinued operations - diluted	$ 1.13730558299419		$ 0.18		$ 0.12
Diluted earnings per share	$ 2.48		$ 1.787		$ 1.42875445492662
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic	49,571	49,571	48,991	48,991	48,599	48,599
Diluted	50,618	50,618	49,866	49,866	49,608	49,608
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.330	$ 0.33	$ 0.295	$ 0.295	$ 0.278	$ 0.278