Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015	Mar. 01, 2014	Nov. 29, 2014
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	$ 1,527,000	$ 1,018,000
Cross currency amount in AOCI	(25,000)	3,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	(21,962,000)	16,227,000
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(22,105,000)		11,184,000
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(157,002,000)		(158,529,000)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(43,000)		(53,000)
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes			25,000
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(179,150,000)		(147,373,000)
Tax on defined benefit pension plans adjustment	83,805,000		84,604,000
Tax on interest rate swap	15,000		21,000
Tax on cash-flow hedges			15,000
H.B Fuller Stockholders [Member]
Other compreshensive income (loss) before tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(33,279,000)	558,000
Reclassification To Earnings Before Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	2,325,000	1,656,000
Interest rate swap	16,000	14,000
Cash-flow hedges	(31,000)	6,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(30,969,000)	2,234,000
Other compreshensive income (loss) tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Reclassification To Earnings Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	(798,000)	(638,000)
Interest rate swap	6,000	(4,000)
Cash-flow hedges	(6,000)	(3,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(798,000)	(645,000)
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(33,279,000)	558,000
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	1,527,000	1,018,000
Interest rate swap	10,000	10,000
Cross currency amount in AOCI	(25,000)	3,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(31,767,000)	1,589,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	(22,057,000)	16,160,000
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(22,074,000)		11,205,000
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(157,002,000)		(158,529,000)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(43,000)		(53,000)
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes	0		25,000
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(179,119,000)		(147,352,000)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	10,000	(11,000)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	10,000	(11,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	95,000	67,000
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(31,000)		(21,000)
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	0		0
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	0		0
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes	0		0
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (31,000)		$ (21,000)