Leases (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2018	Nov. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2017	May 31, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Operating lease not yet commenced, term				7 years
Operating lease not yet commenced, expected payment				$ 0.8
Rental expense, net of sublease rental income	$ 55.7	$ 65.6	$ 60.2

Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not Yet Commenced, Expected Payment

No definition available.

Name:	jef_LesseeOperatingLeaseLeaseNotYetCommencedExpectedPayment
Namespace Prefix:	jef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeasesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease not yet commenced, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121609121&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseLeaseNotYetCommencedTermOfContract1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121573735&loc=d3e41499-112717

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration