Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2016	Aug. 27, 2016	May 29, 2016	Feb. 27, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015	Aug. 29, 2015	May 30, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Dec. 03, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015	Nov. 29, 2014
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller									$ 124,128	$ 86,680	$ 49,773
Weighted-average common shares – basic (in shares)	50,180	50,261	50,145	49,958	50,143	50,421	50,345	50,188	50,136	50,274	50,006
Equivalent shares from share-based compensation plans (in shares)									1,134	1,119	1,249
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares – diluted (in shares)	51,378	51,453	51,253	50,995	51,194	51,530	51,471	51,379	51,270	51,393	51,255
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)									$ 2.48	$ 1.72	$ 1
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)									$ 2.42	$ 1.69	$ 0.97