Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity Statement (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total USD ($)	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] USD ($)	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Earnings (Loss) [Member] USD ($)	Retained Earnings [Member] USD ($)	CLARCOR Inc. [Member] USD ($)	Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests [Member] USD ($)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Nov. 28, 2009	$ 688,475		$ 50,393	$ 36,814	$ (32,879)	$ 632,291	$ 686,619	$ 1,856
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Nov. 28, 2009		50,392,571
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	96,256		0	0	0	96,081	96,081	175
Pension and other postretirement benefits liability adjustments	2,170		0	0	2,170	0	2,170	0
Translation adjustments	(5,100)		0	0	(5,097)	0	(5,097)	(3)
Comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	93,326						93,154	172
Changes in noncontrolling interests ownership	(781)		0	190	0	0	190	(971)
Stock Options Exercised, Shares		336,189
Stock Options Exercised, Value	5,054		336	4,718	0	0	5,054	0
Tax benefit applicable to stock options	2,457		0	2,457	0	0	2,457	0
Issuance and Expense of Stock Under Award Plans, Shares		52,007
Issuance and Expense of Stock Under Award Plans, Value	1,770		52	1,718	0	0	1,770	0
Purchase and Retire Stock, Shares	(445,991)	(445,991)
Purchase and Retire Stock, Value	(16,277)		(446)	(15,831)	0	0	(16,277)	0
Stock option expense	3,632		0	3,632	0	0	3,632	0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	13		0	0	765	(752)	13	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(20,142)		0	0	0	(20,142)	(20,142)	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Nov. 27, 2010	757,527		50,335	33,698	(35,041)	707,478	756,470	1,057
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Nov. 27, 2010		50,334,776
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	124,351		0	0	0	124,003	124,003	348
Pension and other postretirement benefits liability adjustments	(7,614)		0	0	(7,614)	0	(7,614)	0
Translation adjustments	(1,989)		0	0	(1,736)	0	(1,736)	(253)
Comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	114,748						114,653	95
Changes in noncontrolling interests ownership	(321)		0	0	0	0	0	(321)
Stock Options Exercised, Shares		439,582
Stock Options Exercised, Value	3,384		440	2,944	0	0	3,384	0
Tax benefit applicable to stock options	5,100		0	5,100	0	0	5,100	0
Issuance and Expense of Stock Under Award Plans, Shares		54,346
Issuance and Expense of Stock Under Award Plans, Value	2,001		54	1,947	0	0	2,001	0
Purchase and Retire Stock, Shares	(683,776)	(683,776)
Purchase and Retire Stock, Value	(29,317)		(684)	(28,633)	0	0	(29,317)	0
Stock option expense	4,397		0	4,397	0	0	4,397	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(21,961)		0	0	0	(21,961)	(21,961)	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 03, 2011	835,558		50,145	19,453	(44,391)	809,520	834,727	831
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 03, 2011		50,144,928
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	123,101		0	0	0	122,986	122,986	115
Pension and other postretirement benefits liability adjustments	(6,234)		0	0	(6,234)	0	(6,234)	0
Translation adjustments	(1,043)		0	0	(1,083)	0	(1,083)	40
Comprehensive earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	115,824						115,669	155
Stock Options Exercised, Shares		248,374
Stock Options Exercised, Value	3,682		248	3,434	0	0	3,682	0
Tax benefit applicable to stock options	2,007		0	2,007	0	0	2,007	0
Issuance and Expense of Stock Under Award Plans, Shares		52,316
Issuance and Expense of Stock Under Award Plans, Value	1,868		53	1,815	0	0	1,868	0
Purchase and Retire Stock, Shares	(792,881)	(792,881)
Purchase and Retire Stock, Value	(37,320)		(793)	(31,516)	0	(5,011)	(37,320)	0
Stock option expense	4,997		0	4,997	0	0	4,997	0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	125		0	(190)	0	315	125	0
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(24,911)		0	0	0	(24,911)	(24,911)	0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 01, 2012	$ 901,830		$ 49,653	$ 0	$ (51,708)	$ 902,899	$ 900,844	$ 986
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 01, 2012		49,652,737