Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total CLARCOR Inc. Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]	Stock Options [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Stock Options [Member] Total CLARCOR Inc. Equity [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member] Total CLARCOR Inc. Equity [Member]
Common stock, shares outstanding, beginning of period (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2013		50,370,541
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, beginning of period at Nov. 30, 2013	$ 1,032,873	$ 50,371	$ 22,278	$ (29,814)	$ 989,013	$ 1,031,848	$ 1,025
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	144,317				144,084	144,084	233
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	(24,315)			(24,266)		(24,266)	(49)
Stock options exercised (in shares)		322,473						322,473
Stock options exercised	10,738	$ 322	10,416			10,738
Tax benefit applicable to equity awards								$ 2,668	$ 2,668	$ 2,668	$ 101	$ 101	$ 101
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans (in shares)		47,186
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans	$ 2,488	$ 47	2,441			2,488
Purchase and retire stock (in shares)	(535,703)	(535,703)
Purchase and retire stock (in USD per share)	$ (32,822)	$ (536)	(32,286)			(32,822)
Stock option expense	5,026		5,026			5,026
Cash dividends	(35,971)				(35,805)	(35,805)	(166)
Common stock, shares outstanding, end of period (in shares) at Nov. 29, 2014		50,204,497
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, end of period at Nov. 29, 2014	1,105,103	$ 50,204	10,644	(54,080)	1,097,292	1,104,060	1,043
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	134,932				134,704	134,704	228
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	(34,141)			(33,972)		(33,972)	(169)
Stock options exercised (in shares)		176,103						179,071
Stock options exercised	6,608	$ 176	6,432			6,608
Tax benefit applicable to equity awards								$ 1,032	1,032	1,032	215	215	215
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans (in shares)		62,239
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans	$ 3,209	$ 62	3,147			3,209
Purchase and retire stock (in shares)	(1,331,941)	(1,331,941)
Purchase and retire stock (in USD per share)	$ (70,777)	$ (1,331)	(26,845)		(42,601)	(70,777)
Stock option expense	5,375		5,375			5,375
Other	87				87	87
Cash dividends	(41,178)				(40,972)	(40,972)	(206)
Common stock, shares outstanding, end of period (in shares) at Nov. 28, 2015		49,110,898
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, end of period at Nov. 28, 2015	1,110,465	$ 49,111	0	(88,052)	1,148,510	1,109,569	896
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	139,390				139,266	139,266	124
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	(34,772)			(34,610)		(34,610)	(162)
Stock options exercised (in shares)		782,237						782,237
Stock options exercised	32,855	$ 782	32,073			32,855
Tax benefit applicable to equity awards								$ 2,006	$ 2,006	$ 2,006
Tax provision applicable to restricted stock											$ (109)	$ (109)	$ (109)
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans (in shares)		65,040
Issuance and expense of stock under award plans	$ 6,808	$ 65	6,743			6,808
Purchase and retire stock (in shares)	(1,385,401)	(1,385,401)
Purchase and retire stock (in USD per share)	$ (73,901)	$ (1,386)	(44,030)		(28,485)	(73,901)
Stock option expense	3,317		3,317			3,317
Stockholders' Equity, Other Shares		(5,303)
Other	1	$ (5)			6	1
Cash dividends	(44,547)				(44,375)	(44,375)	(172)
Common stock, shares outstanding, end of period (in shares) at Dec. 03, 2016		48,567,471
Stockholders' equity, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest, end of period at Dec. 03, 2016	$ 1,141,513	$ 48,567	$ 0	$ (122,662)	$ 1,214,922	$ 1,140,827	$ 686