Note 5 - Components of Accumulaed Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 27, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015
Tax on interest rate swap	$ (10)	$ 5
Tax on cash flow hedges	$ 907	811
Taxes on defined benefit pension plans adjustment		$ 93,012

Total tax effect of the change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. The change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase or decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses.

No definition available.

Name:	ful_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxOnCashFlowHedgesEffect
Namespace Prefix:	ful_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant