Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 28, 2015	Nov. 29, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller	$ 86,680	$ 49,773	$ 96,761
Weighted-average common shares – basic (in shares)	50,274	50,006	49,893
Equivalent shares from share-based compensation plans (in shares)	1,119	1,249	1,243
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares – diluted (in shares)	51,393	51,255	51,136
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.72	$ 1	$ 1.94
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.69	$ 0.97	$ 1.89