Business Acquisitions and Investments - Pro Forma (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Aug. 30, 2014		Aug. 31, 2013		Aug. 30, 2014		Aug. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 400,152		$ 289,126		$ 1,099,479		$ 832,980
Pro forma, net sales	400,152		379,529		1,161,738		1,074,441
Operating profit	135,325		91,900		357,282		271,600
Pro forma, gross profit	62,397		56,777		171,130		146,016
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	41,703		28,707		100,576		85,220
Pro forma, net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	41,828		38,142		117,612		96,826
Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.82		$ 0.57		$ 1.98		$ 1.69
Pro forma, diluted earnings per share(in dollars per share)	$ 0.82		$ 0.76		$ 2.32		$ 1.92
Stanadyne [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Net sales	28,014				37,006
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	7,275				5,348
Engine/Mobile Filtration [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Net sales	0		27,384		46,837		77,843
Operating profit	0		8,325	[1]	17,677	[2]	17,602	[3]
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	0		4,849		10,485		9,650
Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.10		$ 0.21		$ 0.19
Adjustments to remove transaction costs					3,035		3,075
Adjustments related to step-up of inventory					1,368		1,368
Industrial/Environmental Filtration [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Net sales	0		63,019		15,422		163,618
Operating profit	171	[4]	6,467	[5]	8,814	[6]	3,213	[7]
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	125		4,586		6,551		1,956
Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00		$ 0.09		$ 0.13		$ 0.04
Adjustments to remove transaction costs					2,089		3,740
Adjustments related to step-up of inventory			126		4,342		4,468
As Reported [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Net sales	400,152		289,126		1,099,479		832,980
Operating profit	62,226		41,985		144,639		125,201
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	$ 41,703		$ 28,707		$ 100,576		$ 85,220
Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.82		$ 0.57		$ 1.98		$ 1.69

[1] Includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.

[2] Includes adjustments to remove transaction costs of $3,035 and cost of sales related to the step-up of inventory to its estimated acquisition-date fair value of $1,368, which have been pushed back to the nine months ended August 31, 2013 for pro forma presentation. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.

[3] Includes adjustments to push back transaction costs of $3,075 and cost of sales related to the step-up of inventory to its estimated acquisition-date fair value of $1,368. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.

[4] Includes adjustments to cost of sales related to the step-up of inventory to its estimated acquisition-date fair value of $126, which have been pushed back to the three and nine month periods ended August 31, 2013 for pro forma presentation.

[5] Includes adjustments to push back cost of sales related to the step-up of inventory to its estimated acquisition-date fair value of $126. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expenese.

[6] Includes adjustments to remove transaction costs of $2,089 and cost of sales related to the step-up of inventory to its estimated acquisition-date fair value of $4,342, which have been pushed back to the nine months ended August 31, 2013 for pro forma presentation. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.

[7] Includes adjustments to push back transaction costs of $3,740 and cost of sales related to the step-up of inventory to its estimated acquisition-date fair value of $4,468. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense