Acquistions and Divestitures (Details) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2011 USD ($)	Aug. 27, 2011 USD ($)	May 28, 2011 USD ($)	Feb. 26, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2011 USD ($)	Nov. 27, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Liquamelt Corp. [Member] USD ($)	May 28, 2011 Liquamelt Corp. [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2011 Forbo Group [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] CHF	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Allocated Acquired Goodwill North America Adhesives [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Allocated Acquired Goodwill EIMEA [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Allocated Acquired Goodwill Latin America Adhesives [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Allocated Acquired Goodwill Asia Pacific [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Developed technology [Members] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 01, 2012 Forbo Group [Member] Other intangibles [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] Non-competition agreements [Member] USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase price													$ 6,000	$ 404,725			370,000									$ 7,881
Total purchase price net of cash acquired									412,606	6,000	27,573
Acquisition related costs													118													74
Maximum additional consideration													7,000													2,000
Acquisition Related Financing [Abstract]
Original amount								150,000						250,000
Original interest rate														4.12%
Proceeds from long-term debt									584,208	218,000	345,000			150,000
Initial interest rate on term loan														1.75%
Purchase price allocation [Abstract]
Current assets														172,345												603
Property, plant and equipment														92,443												1,471
Goodwill														136,658				31,563	97,466	1,584	6,045					5,434
Other intangibles														123,459								42,190	58,910	21,880	479	3,000	2,300	300	400
Other assets														4,605												325
Current liabilities														(84,251)												(84)
Contingent consideration liabilities												(449)	(1,919)													(1,200)
Other liabilities														(40,534)												(1,668)
Total purchase price													6,000	404,725			370,000									7,881
Expected life of acquired intangibles in years																								8	3		10	5	5
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															9,419
Goodwill Deductible For Tax Purposes Over Fifteen Years															27,798
Goodwill Non Deductible For Tax Purposes															99,441
Net revenue	513,255	500,535	526,995	345,454	401,545	363,071	368,360	311,109	1,886,239	1,444,085	1,256,825				423,396
Business combination pro forma [Abstract]
Pro forma net revenue															2,019,103	2,015,362
Pro forma income from continuing operations															71,946	83,216
Pro forma net income attributable to H.B. Fuller															129,281	92,106
Pro forma diluted earnings per share from continuing operations															$ 1.42	$ 1.67
Pro forma diluted earnings per share															$ 2.55	$ 1.85
Discontinued Operations Information [Line Items]
Cash proceeds		118,566
Sales price		120,000
Purchase price adjustments		1,541
Settlement of intercompany debt in cash proceeds		25,325
Gain on sale net of taxes		51,060
Direct internal costs to sell		4,875
Deferred gain - gross		5,000
Deferred gain net of tax		3,135
Discontinued operations income statement items
Net revenue									73,143	113,466	99,336
Income from operations									8,235	12,572	11,100
Gain on sale of discontinued operations									66,179	0	0
Income taxes									(16,846)	(3,740)	(4,974)
Net Income (loss) from discontinued operations									57,568	8,832	6,126
Tax on sale									15,119
Discontinued operations balance sheet items
Cash and cash equivalents	0				1,500				0	1,500
Trade receivables, net	0				26,852				0	26,852
Inventories	0				19,549				0	19,549
Other current assets	0				4,583				0	4,583
Current assets of discontinuted operations	0				52,484				0	52,484
Property, pland and equipment, net	0				13,296				0	13,296
Other assets	1,865				3,563				1,865	3,563
Long-term assets of discontinued operations	1,865				16,859				1,865	16,859
Trade payables	74				11,936				74	11,936
Income taxes payable	0				4,567				0	4,567
Other accrued expenses	0				6,097				0	6,097
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	74				22,600				74	22,600
Accrued pension liabilities	0				1,288				0	1,288
Other liabilities	5,000				1,456				5,000	1,456
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations	$ 5,000				$ 2,744				$ 5,000	$ 2,744