Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss-AOCI (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 25, 2012		Nov. 27, 2011		Nov. 28, 2010		Nov. 29, 2009
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Postretirement Benefits, beginning of period	$ (255,684)	[1]	$ (198,807)	[1]			$ (176,880)	[1]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Investment Hedge losses, beginning of period	(28,693)		(26,389)				(49,317)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation,beginning of period	(61,078)		(47,129)				(21,595)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, beginning of period	(547)		157				(2,075)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Attributable to Levi Strauss	(414,635)		(346,002)		(272,168)		(249,867)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Noncontrolling Interest, beginning of period	10,869		10,075				9,945
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Total	(404,223)		(335,133)		(262,093)		(239,922)
Gross changes, Pension and Postretirement Benefits	(119,450)	[1]	(92,480)	[1]	(34,625)	[1]
Gross changes, Net Investment Hedges	16,070		(3,758)		37,143
Gross changes, Foreign Currency Translation	(4,755)		(10,881)		(20,833)
Gross changes, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities	2,549		(1,149)		3,615
Gross changes, Attributable to Levi Strauss	(105,586)		(108,268)		(14,700)
Gross changes, Noncontrolling Interest	(457)		794		130
Gross changes, Total	(106,043)		(107,474)		(14,570)
Tax, Pension and Postretirement Benefits	44,173	[1]	35,603	[1]	12,698	[1]
Tax, Net Investment Hedges	(6,230)		1,454		(14,215)
Tax, Foreign Currency Translation	(2)		(3,068)		(4,701)
Tax, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities	(988)		445		(1,383)
Tax, Attributable to Levi Strauss	36,953		34,434		(7,601)
Tax, Noncontrolling Interest	0		0		0
Tax, Total	36,953		34,434		(7,601)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, Pension and Postretirement Benefits	75,277	[1]	56,877	[1]	21,927	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, Net Investment Hedges	9,840		(2,304)		22,928
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, Foreign Currency Translation	(4,757)		(13,949)		(25,534)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities	1,561		(704)		2,232
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, Total Attributable to Levi Strauss			(73,834)		(22,301)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, Noncontrolling Interest			(794)		(130)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, Total	(69,090)		(73,040)		(22,171)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Postretirement Benefits, end of period	(330,961)	[1]	(255,684)	[1]	(198,807)	[1]	(176,880)	[1]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Investment Hedge losses, end of period	(18,853)		(28,693)		(26,389)		(49,317)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation, end of period	(65,835)		(61,078)		(47,129)		(21,595)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Marketable Securities, end of period	1,014		(547)		157		(2,075)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Noncontrolling Interest, end of period	$ 10,412		$ 10,869		$ 10,075		$ 9,945

[1] Pension and postretirement benefit amounts primarily resulted from the actuarial losses recorded in conjunction with the year-end remeasurements of pension obligations, and were principally due to a decline in discount rates caused by changes in the financial markets, including a decrease in corporate bond yield indices.