Note 15 - Segments - EBITDA Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 28, 2020	Aug. 29, 2020	May 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	Jun. 01, 2019	Mar. 02, 2019	Nov. 28, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Dec. 01, 2018
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 406,809	$ 432,345	$ 448,753
Interest expense									86,776	103,287	110,994
Interest income									(11,417)	(12,178)	(11,774)
Income taxes									41,921	49,408	(6,356)
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller	$ 40,604	$ 41,607	$ 31,613	$ 9,895	$ 32,214	$ 49,718	$ 36,641	$ 12,244	123,719	130,817	171,208
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Adjusted EBITDA									4,754	11,293	12,734
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Adjustments									25,190	22,849	(15,246)
Interest expense									84,619	103,287	110,624
Interest income									(11,417)	(12,178)	(11,774)
Income taxes									46,456	47,465	49,541
Depreciation and amortization expense									138,242	140,105	144,400
Total									283,090	301,528	277,545
Hygiene, Health, and Consumable Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Adjusted EBITDA									182,448	166,685	174,410
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Adjusted EBITDA									167,915	197,853	183,929
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 51,692	$ 56,514	$ 77,680