Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 03, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011	Aug. 27, 2011	May 28, 2011	Feb. 26, 2011	Dec. 01, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011	Nov. 27, 2010
Selected Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 292,913	$ 286,733	$ 284,855	$ 257,264	$ 307,529	$ 284,819	$ 288,533	$ 245,720	$ 1,121,765	$ 1,126,601	$ 1,011,429
Gross profit	101,044	94,888	98,185	86,215	107,132	95,874	99,462	80,953	380,332	383,421	338,407
Net earnings	36,358	30,411	33,079	23,492	37,400	32,159	32,881	21,921	123,340	124,361	96,351
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	$ 36,310	$ 30,270	$ 32,927	$ 23,479	$ 37,244	$ 32,070	$ 32,808	$ 21,881	$ 122,986	$ 124,003	$ 96,081
Net earnings per common share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Basic	$ 0.73	$ 0.60	$ 0.65	$ 0.47	$ 0.74	$ 0.63	$ 0.65	$ 0.43	$ 2.45	$ 2.46	$ 1.90
Net earnings per common share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted	$ 0.72	$ 0.60	$ 0.65	$ 0.46	$ 0.73	$ 0.63	$ 0.64	$ 0.43	$ 2.42	$ 2.42	$ 1.88
Cash dividends paid per common share	$ 0.1350	$ 0.1200	$ 0.1200	$ 0.1200	$ 0.1200	$ 0.1050	$ 0.1050	$ 0.1050	$ 0.4950	$ 0.4350	$ 0.3975