Note 6 - Special Charges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
May 28, 2016	May 30, 2015	May 28, 2016	May 30, 2015
Business Integration Project [Member]
Acquisition and transformation related costs	$ 82	$ 75	$ 187	$ 547
Workforce reduction costs		(270)	(1)	(214)
Facility exit costs	$ 134	1,111	407	2,640
Other related costs	154	18	190	322
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	370	934	783	3,295
Other Nonrecurring (Income) Expense	$ 370	$ 934	$ 783	$ 3,295

Amount of costs associated with planned restructuring activities as part of an acquisition.

No definition available.

Name:	ful_OtherBusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPlannedRestructuringActivities
Namespace Prefix:	ful_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reversal of the amount of expense for special or contractual termination benefits provided to current employees involuntarily terminated under under a benefit arrangement associated exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ful_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of other expense (income) that is infrequent in occurrence or unusual in nature.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64828382&loc=d3e15138-107781

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Professional and contract service expense includes cost reimbursements for support services related to contracted projects, outsourced management, technical and staff support.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of accelerated depreciation charged against earnings associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAcceleratedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=ful_BusinessIntegrationProjectMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: