Note 1 - Basis of Presentation - Change in Accounting Principle (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2019	Jun. 02, 2018	Jun. 01, 2019	Jun. 02, 2018
Cost of sales	$ (541,124)	$ (569,201)	$ (1,034,134)	$ (1,096,767)
Gross profit	218,459	220,186	398,384	405,699
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(146,079)	(146,889)	(291,792)	(299,596)
Other income, net	2,986	7,739	6,351	12,651
Net income including non-controlling interest	36,641	44,464	48,889	92,131
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller	$ 36,641	$ 44,451	$ 48,885	$ 92,133
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.88	$ 0.96	$ 1.82
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.86	$ 0.94	$ 1.78
Previously Reported [Member]
Cost of sales		$ (567,002)		$ (1,092,376)
Gross profit		222,385		410,090
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(145,199)		(296,219)
Other income, net		3,850		4,883
Net income including non-controlling interest		44,464		92,131
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller		$ 44,451		$ 92,133
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.88		$ 1.82
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.86		$ 1.78
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 [Member]
Cost of sales		$ (2,199)		$ (4,391)
Gross profit		(2,199)		(4,391)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		(1,690)		(3,377)
Other income, net		3,889		7,768
Net income including non-controlling interest
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller
Basic (in dollars per share)
Diluted (in dollars per share)