Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 29, 2014	Aug. 30, 2014	May 31, 2014	Mar. 01, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Jun. 01, 2013	Mar. 02, 2013	Nov. 29, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012
Revenue Recognition Rebates [Abstract]
Rebates									$ 12,428,000	$ 11,552,000	$ 9,707,000
Inventories - LIFO [Abstract]
Percentage of LIFO Inventory	37.00%								37.00%
Liquidations of LIFO layers									0	0	0
Investments [Abstract]
Cash surrender value of life insurance contracts	7,196,000								7,196,000
Cost method investments	1,671,000				1,674,000				1,671,000	1,674,000
Impairment of cost method investments									0	0	1,517,000
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Capitalized interest costs									2,725,000	1,921,000	151,000
Amortizable intangible assets [Line Items]
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life									16 years	16 years
Asset Retirement Obligations [Abstract]
Asset retirement obligation liability	2,515,000				3,236,000				2,515,000	3,236,000
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Line Items]
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller									49,773,000	96,761,000	125,622,000
Weighted-average common shares - basic	50,107,000	50,053,000	49,956,000	49,910,000	49,909,000	49,913,000	49,935,000	49,817,000	50,006,000	49,893,000	49,571,000
Equivalent Shares From Share Based Compensations Plans									1,249,000	1,243,000	1,047,000
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares-diluted	51,296,000	51,297,000	51,175,000	51,255,000	51,236,000	51,127,000	51,152,000	51,027,000	51,255,000	51,136,000	50,618,000
Antidilutive shares not used in calculating diluted earnings per share calculations									421,810	112,367	7,372
Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]
Number of shares repurchased									67,593	62,124	54,289
Shares repurchased										375,000	100,000
Total Value Repurchased Shares									12,254,000	15,292,000	2,999,000
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	82,195,000				89,053,000				82,195,000	89,053,000
Noncurrent Assets	21,257,000				21,152,000				21,257,000	21,152,000
Current Liabilities	37,021,000				42,835,000				37,021,000	42,835,000
Noncurrent Liabilities	1,787,000				2,090,000				1,787,000	2,090,000
Revenue									181,999,000	194,705,000
Gross Profit									47,955,000	54,672,000
Net Income									$ 14,024,000	$ 16,760,000