Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 02, 2012	Jan. 24, 2013	May 27, 2012
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	SEALY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000748015
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 02, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-02
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 91,637,818
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		104,949,949
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY