Acquistions and Divestitures (Details) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended									3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 03, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 03, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] CHF	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] North America Adhesives [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] EIMEA [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Latin America Adhesives [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Asia Pacific [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Developed technology [Member] number	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Developed technology [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Developed technology [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Customer relationships [Member] number	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Customer relationships [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Trademarks [Member] number	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Trademarks [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Other intangibles [Member] number	Mar. 02, 2013 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Other intangibles [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Forbo Industrial Adhesive Business [Member] Other intangibles [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 01, 2012 Engent Inc [Member] USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total acquisition cost					$ 403,100		$ 404,725	$ 403,100	368,514																	$ 7,881
Total purchase price net of cash acquired	(1,625)		0
Maximum additional consideration																										2,000
Contingent consideration																										1,200
Purchase price allocation [Abstract]
Current assets					172,345		172,345
Property, plant and equipment					92,443		92,443
Goodwill					135,033		136,658			29,938	97,466	1,584	6,045
Other intangibles, net					123,459		123,459								42,190	42,190		58,910	58,910		21,880	21,880		479	479
Other assets acquired					4,605		4,605
Current liabilities					(84,251)		(84,251)
Other liabilities					(40,534)		(40,534)
Total purchase price					403,100		404,725	403,100	368,514																	7,881
Current assets purchase price adjustment					0
Property, plant and equipment purchase price adjustment					0
Goodwill purchase price adjustment					(1,625)
Other intangibles purchase price adjustment					0
Other assets purchase price adjustment					0
Current liabilities purchase price adjustment					0
Other liabilities purchase price adjustment					0
Total purchase price adjustment					(1,625)
Expected life of acquired intangibles in years																				8			3
Minimum expected life of acquired intangibles in years														7			12
Maximum expected life of acquired intangibles in years														12			13
Goodwill Deductible For Tax Purposes Over Five Years					9,419
Goodwill Deductible For Tax Purposes Over Fifteen Years					26,173
Goodwill Non Deductible For Tax Purposes					99,441
Acquisition Related Financing [Abstract]
Proceeds from long-term debt	36,000		0
Net revenue of acquired business	479,842		345,453
Segment operating income	35,736		27,656
Acquisition and integration special charges	5,333		6,482
Business combination pro forma [Abstract]
Pro forma revenue						478,318
Pro forma income from continuing operations						14,892
Pro forma net income attributable to H.B. Fuller						16,590
Pro forma diluted earnings per share from continuing operations						$ 0.30
Pro forma diluted earnings per share						$ 0.33
Discontinued Operations Information [Line Items]
Cash proceeds		118,566
Discontinued operations income statement items [Abstract]
Net revenue			29,808
Income from operations			2,843
Income taxes			(1,120)
Net Income (loss) from discontinued operations			1,723
Discontinued operations balance sheet items
Other current assets	1,865			0
Current assets of discontinued operations	1,865			0
Other assets	0			1,865
Long-term assets of discontinued operations	0			1,865
Trade payables	0			74
Other accrued expenses	5,000			0
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	5,000			74
Other liabilities	0			5,000
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations	$ 0			$ 5,000