Note 1 - Basis of Presentation - Change in Accounting Principle (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2019	Mar. 03, 2018
Cost of sales	$ (493,010)	$ (527,566)
Gross profit	179,925	185,513
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(145,713)	(152,707)
Other income (expense), net	3,365	4,912
Net income including non-controlling interests	12,248	47,667
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller	$ 12,244	$ 47,682
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.94
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.92
Previously Reported [Member]
Cost of sales		$ (525,374)
Gross profit		187,705
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(151,020)
Other income (expense), net		1,033
Net income including non-controlling interests		47,667
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller		$ 47,682
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.94
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.92
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 [Member]
Cost of sales		$ (2,192)
Gross profit		(2,192)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(1,687)
Other income (expense), net		3,879
Net income including non-controlling interests
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller
Basic (in dollars per share)
Diluted (in dollars per share)