Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Jun. 01, 2013	Mar. 02, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 03, 2012	Nov. 27, 2010	Nov. 30, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011
Revenue Recognition Rebates [Abstract]
Rebates										$ 11,552	$ 9,707	$ 14,751
Restrictions On Cash [Abstract]
Credit facility limitations	75,000									75,000
Inventories - LIFO [Abstract]
Percentage of LIFO Inventory	32.00%									32.00%
Liquidations of LIFO layers										0	0	273
Investments [Abstract]
Cash surrender value of life insurance contracts	8,490									8,490
Cost method investments	1,674				2,085					1,674	2,085
Impairment of cost method investments											1,517
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Capitalized interest costs										1,921	151	114
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life										16 years	16 years
Asset Retirement Obligations [Abstract]
Asset retirement obligation liability	3,236				3,623					3,236	3,623
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Line Items]
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller										96,761	125,622	89,105
Weighted-average common shares - basic	49,909,000	49,913,000	49,935,000	49,817,000	49,640,000	49,627,000	49,652,000	49,365,000		49,893,000	49,571,000	48,991,000
Equivalent Shares From Share Based Compensations Plans										1,243,000	1,047,000	875,000
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares-diluted	51,236,000	51,127,000	51,152,000	51,027,000	50,798,000	50,699,000	50,722,000	50,253,000		51,136,000	50,618,000	49,866,000
Antidilutive shares not used in calculating diluted earnings per share calculations										112,367	7,372	856,593
Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Number of shares repurchased										62,124	54,289	48,675
Share repurchase plan									100,000
Shares repurchased										375,000	100,000	345,446
Total Value Repurchased Shares										15,292	2,999
Maximum [Member]
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life										20 years
Minimum [Member]
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life										3 years
Building and Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life										40 years
Building and Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life										20 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life										20 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property Plant And Equipment Useful Life										3 years
Sekisui Fuller Company Ltd [Member]
Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership Percentage	50.00%									50.00%
Current Assets	89,053				117,597					89,053	117,597
Noncurrent Assets	21,152				25,704					21,152	25,704
Current Liabilities	42,835				48,298					42,835	48,298
Noncurrent Liabilities	2,090				2,653					2,090	2,653
Revenue										194,705	222,589
Gross Profit										54,672	63,596
Net Income										$ 16,760	$ 18,436