Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2016	Jan. 30, 2017	May 31, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000007623
Trading Symbol	artw
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--11-30
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		4,109,052
Entity Public Float			$ 7,019,055
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Nov. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false