Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	May. 30, 2015	May. 29, 2014	May. 30, 2015	May. 31, 2014	May. 31, 2014	Nov. 29, 2014
Total comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Net income attributable to HB Fuller	$ 25,172,000	$ 20,537,000	$ 34,882,000		$ 35,108,000
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	144,000	89,000	229,000		167,000
Other compreshensive income (loss) before tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment				$ (827)
Reclassification To Earnings Before Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment				3,326
Interest rate swap				(28)
Cash-flow hedges				(53)
Other compreshensive income (loss) tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment				0
Reclassification To Earnings Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment				(1,287)
Interest rate swap				8
Cash-flow hedges				21
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment				(827)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	1,528,000	1,021,000	3,055,000		2,039,000
Interest rate swap				20
Cross currency amount in AOCI	0	29,000	(25,000)		32,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	22,203,000	20,309,000	241,000		36,536,000	$ (25,253,000)
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(26,736,000)		(26,736,000)			11,184,000
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(155,474,000)		(155,474,000)			(158,529,000)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(33,000)		(33,000)			(53,000)
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes						25,000
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(182,243,000)		(182,243,000)			(147,373,000)
Tax on defined benefit pension plans adjustment	83,007,000		83,007,000			84,604,000
Tax on interest rate swap	0		0			15,000
Tax on cash-flow hedges	20,000		20,000			21,000
H.B Fuller Stockholders [Member]
Other compreshensive income (loss) before tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,725,000)	(1,385,000)	(38,004,000)	(827)	(827,000)
Reclassification To Earnings Before Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	2,326,000	1,670,000	4,651,000	3,326	3,326,000
Interest rate swap	5,000	14,000	21,000	28	28,000
Cash-flow hedges	0	47,000	(31,000)	53	53,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,394,000)	346,000	(33,363,000)	2,580	2,580,000
Other compreshensive income (loss) tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0	0	0	0
Reclassification To Earnings Tax [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	(798,000)	(649,000)	(1,596,000)	(1,287)	(1,287,000)
Interest rate swap	5,000	(4,000)	(1,000)	(8)	(8,000)
Cash-flow hedges	0	(18,000)	6,000	(21)	(21,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(793,000)	(671,000)	(1,591,000)	(1,316)	(1,316,000)
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(4,725,000)	(1,385,000)	(38,004,000)	(827)	(827,000)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment	1,528,000	1,021,000	3,055,000	2,039	2,039,000
Interest rate swap	10,000	10,000	20,000	20	20,000
Cross currency amount in AOCI	0	29,000	(25,000)	32	32,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,187,000)	(325,000)	(34,954,000)	1,264	1,264,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	21,985,000	20,212,000	(72,000)	36,372	36,372,000
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(26,799,000)		(26,799,000)			11,205,000
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	(155,474,000)		(155,474,000)			(158,529,000)
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	(33,000)		(33,000)			(53,000)
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes	0		0			25,000
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(182,306,000)		(182,306,000)			(147,352,000)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Other compreshensive income (loss) net [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	74,000	8,000	84,000	(3)	(3,000)
Reclassification To Earnings Net [Abstract]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	74,000	8,000	84,000	(3)	(3,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	218,000	$ 97,000	313,000	$ 164	$ 164,000
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	63,000		63,000			(21,000)
Defined benefit pension plans adjustment, net of taxes	0		0			0
Interest rate swap, net of taxes	0		0			0
Cash-flow hedges, net of taxes	0		0			0
Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 63,000		$ 63,000			$ (21,000)