Earnings Per Share and Stock Repurchase Activity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 01, 2012

Earnings Per Share and Stock Repurchase Activity [Abstract]

Schedule of Weighted Average Number of Shares [Table Text Block]

The following table provides a reconciliation of the denominators utilized in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

	2012		2011		2010
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	50,285,480		50,501,842		50,678,617
Dilutive effect of stock-based arrangements	596,711		689,593		477,612
Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding	50,882,191		51,191,435		51,156,229
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	$	122,986	$	124,003	$	96,081
Net earnings per common share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Basic	$	2.45	$	2.46	$	1.90
Net earnings per common share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted	$	2.42	$	2.42	$	1.88

Additional Information Earnings Per Share and Stock Repurchase Activity [Table Text Block]

The following table provides additional information regarding the calculation of earnings per share and stock repurchase activity.

	2012		2011		2010
Number of antidilutive options with exercise prices greater than the average market price excluded from the computation of dilutive earnings per share	508,167		60,000		646,349
Common stock repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program	$	37,320	$	29,317	$	16,277
Number of shares repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program	792,881		683,776		445,991