Business Acquisitions, Investments and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Pro Forma Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 28, 2015	Aug. 29, 2015	May. 30, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 29, 2014	Aug. 30, 2014	May. 31, 2014	Mar. 01, 2014	Nov. 28, 2015	Nov. 29, 2014		Nov. 30, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 372,547	$ 357,557	$ 399,799	$ 351,123	$ 413,375	$ 400,152	$ 386,642	$ 312,685	$ 1,481,026	$ 1,512,854		$ 1,130,770
Net sales, pro forma										1,575,113		1,459,060
Operating profit	122,289	119,755	133,610	112,975	139,753	135,325	125,370	96,587	488,629	497,035		370,209
Operating profit, pro forma										236,919		202,493
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.	$ 33,053	$ 36,445	$ 38,497	$ 26,709	$ 43,508	$ 41,703	$ 34,552	$ 24,321	$ 134,704	144,084		118,076
Net earnings, pro forma										$ 161,120		$ 133,568
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67	$ 0.72	$ 0.76	$ 0.53	$ 0.86	$ 0.82	$ 0.68	$ 0.48	$ 2.67	$ 2.83		$ 2.34
Diluted earnings per share, pro forma (in dollars per share)										$ 3.17		$ 2.64
Engine Mobile Filtration [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales attributable to CLARCOR										$ 46,837		$ 105,744
Operating profit attributable to CLARCOR										17,677	[1]	24,830	[2]
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR										$ 10,485		$ 13,789
Diluted earnings per share, attributable to CLARCOR (in dollars per share)										$ 0.21		$ 0.27
Transaction costs removal, amount										$ 3,035		$ 3,035
Cost of inventory step up										1,368		1,368
Industrial Environmental Filtration [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales attributable to CLARCOR										15,422		222,546
Operating profit attributable to CLARCOR										8,814	[3]	3,047	[4]
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR										$ 6,551		$ 1,703
Diluted earnings per share, attributable to CLARCOR (in dollars per share)										$ 0.13		$ 0.03
Transaction costs removal, amount										$ 2,089		$ 2,089
Cost of inventory step up										4,342		4,342
As Reported [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales										1,512,854		1,130,770
Operating profit										210,428		174,616
Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.										$ 144,084		$ 118,076
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)										$ 2.83		$ 2.34

[1] 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 twelve months ended November 30, 2013 for pro forma presentation. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.

[2] Includes adjustments to push back 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. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.

[3] 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 twelve months ended November 30, 2013 for pro forma presentation. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.

[4] Includes adjustments to push back 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. Also includes adjustments to intangible asset amortization, depreciation expense and interest expense.