Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Nov. 30, 2013
Total comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Net income attributable to HB Fuller	$ 3,987	$ 28,269	$ 39,095	$ 74,875
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	97	92	264	308
Other compreshensive income (loss) before tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(9,346)	(3,491)	(10,173)	(12,561)
Reclassification To Earnings Before Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	(1,658)	3,054	4,984	9,121
Interest rate swap	(15)	(15)	(43)	(43)
Cash-flow hedges	(62)	(194)	(115)	(502)
Other compreshensive income (loss) tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Reclassification To Earnings Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	(639)	(1,069)	(1,926)	(3,195)
Interest rate swap	4	4	12	12
Cash-flow hedges	14	75	35	194
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(9,346)	(3,491)	(10,173)	(12,561)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	1,019	1,985	3,058	5,926
Interest rate swap	11	11	31	31
Cross currency amount in AOCI	48	119	80	308
Comprehensive income (loss)	(4,182)	27,032	32,354	68,895	164,795
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	39,694		39,694		49,871
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(118,597)		(118,597)		(121,655)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(63)		(63)		(94)
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes	(11)		(11)		(91)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(78,977)		(78,977)		(71,969)
Tax on defined benefit pension plans adjustment	63,284		63,284		65,210
Tax on interest rate swap	25		25		36
Tax on cash-flow hedges	35		35		57
H.B Fuller Stockholders [Member]
Other compreshensive income (loss) before tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(9,346)	(3,491)	(10,173)	(12,561)
Reclassification To Earnings Before Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	1,658	3,054	4,984	9,121
Interest rate swap	15	15	43	43
Cash-flow hedges	62	194	115	502
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(7,611)	(228)	(5,031)	(2,895)
Other compreshensive income (loss) tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0
Reclassification To Earnings Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	(639)	(1,069)	(1,926)	(3,195)
Interest rate swap	(4)	(4)	(12)	(12)
Cash-flow hedges	(14)	(75)	(35)	(194)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(657)	(1,148)	(1,973)	(3,401)
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(9,346)	(3,491)	(10,173)	(12,561)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	1,019	1,985	3,058	5,926
Interest rate swap	11	11	31	31
Cross currency amount in AOCI	48	119	80	308
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(8,268)	(1,376)	(7,004)	(6,296)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(4,281)	26,893	32,091	68,579
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	39,705		39,705		49,878
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(118,597)		(118,597)		(121,655)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(63)		(63)		(94)
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes	(11)		(11)		(91)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(78,966)		(78,966)		(71,962)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2	47	(1)	8
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2	47	(1)	8
Comprehensive income (loss)	99	139	263	316
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(11)		(11)		(7)
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	0		0		0
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	0		0		0
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes	0		0		0
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (11)		$ (11)		$ (7)