The amount of the termination fee that may be required to pay if a breach of contract is determined.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The number of manufacturing facilities in operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ful_NumberOfManufacturingFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	ful_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of goodwill arising from a business combination that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedTaxDeductibleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84229725&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period (for example, cash that was held by the acquired business).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of countries in which the entity operates as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ful_RoyalAdhesivesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ful_RoyalAdhesivesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ful_AdecolMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ful_HEWisdomAndSonsIncAndWisdomAdhesivesSoutheastLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ful_CyberbondLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ful_AdvancedAdhesivesPtyLimitedAndAdvanceAdhesivesNewZealandMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 2 - Acquisitions (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, BRL in Millions					3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	7 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 08, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 02, 2017 BRL	Dec. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 04, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 04, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill	$ 444,642						$ 366,248	$ 366,248	$ 444,642
Royal Adhesives [Member]
Number of Manufacturing Facilities	19
Number of Countries in which Entity Operates	5								5
Royal Adhesives [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Business Acquisition, Termination Fee										$ 78,800
Royal Adhesives [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred						$ 1,575,000
Adecol [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred \| BRL					BRL 145
H. E. Wisdom & Sons, Inc. and Wisdom Adhesives Southeast, LLC [Member]
Goodwill	$ 59,521	$ 59,521							$ 59,521		$ 60,313
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 123,305
H. E. Wisdom & Sons, Inc. and Wisdom Adhesives Southeast, LLC [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		15 years
H. E. Wisdom & Sons, Inc. and Wisdom Adhesives Southeast, LLC [Member] \| Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		10 years
H. E. Wisdom & Sons, Inc. and Wisdom Adhesives Southeast, LLC [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs									$ 555
Cyberbond LLC [Member]
Goodwill			$ 23,654
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount			10,658
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			42,182
Cash Acquired from Acquisition			$ 332
Cyberbond LLC [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life			15 years
Cyberbond LLC [Member] \| Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life			10 years
Cyberbond LLC [Member] \| Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life			7 years
Cyberbond LLC [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs							$ 527
Advanced Adhesives Pty Limited and Advance Adhesives (New Zealand) [Member]
Goodwill				$ 102
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross				$ 10,365
Advanced Adhesives Pty Limited and Advance Adhesives (New Zealand) [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life				15 years
Advanced Adhesives Pty Limited and Advance Adhesives (New Zealand) [Member] \| Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life				1 year
Advanced Adhesives Pty Limited and Advance Adhesives (New Zealand) [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs								$ 646