Note 1 - Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 02, 2017	Sep. 02, 2017	Jun. 03, 2017	Mar. 04, 2017	Dec. 03, 2016	Aug. 27, 2016	May 29, 2016	Feb. 27, 2016	Dec. 02, 2017	Dec. 03, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015
Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller									$ 58,242	$ 124,128	$ 86,680
Weighted-average common shares – basic (in shares)	50,356	50,384	50,496	50,243	50,180	50,261	50,145	49,958	50,370	50,136	50,274
Equivalent shares from share-based compensation plans (in shares)									1,249	1,134	1,119
Weighted-average common and common equivalent shares – diluted (in shares)	51,724	51,605	51,686	51,460	51,378	51,453	51,253	50,995	51,619	51,270	51,393
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)									$ 1.16	$ 2.48	$ 1.72
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)									$ 1.13	$ 2.42	$ 1.69