Note 1 - Description of the Company	9 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2013
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	1) Description of the Company Unless otherwise specified, as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Art’s-Way,” and the “Company,” refer to Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in Armstrong, Iowa, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. We began operations as a farm equipment manufacturer in 1956. Since that time, we have become a major worldwide manufacturer of agricultural equipment. Our principal manufacturing plant is located in Armstrong, Iowa. We have historically organized our business into three operating segments. Management separately evaluates the financial results of each segment because each is a strategic business unit offering different products and requiring different technology and marketing strategies. Our agricultural products segment (“Manufacturing”) manufactures farm equipment under the Art’s-Way Manufacturing label and private labels. Our pressurized vessels segment (“Vessels”) manufactures pressurized vessels and our modular buildings segment (“Scientific”) manufactures modular buildings for various uses, commonly animal containment and research laboratories. For detailed financial information relating to segment reporting, see Note 12, “Segment Information.” On May 10, 2012, the Company acquired the assets of Universal Harvester Co., Inc. consisting of inventory, equipment, land, building, goodwill, and intangible assets. Universal Harvester Co., Inc. manufactured pickup reels for combines and swathers. The existing Universal Harvester Co., Inc. operational team was hired on May 11, 2012 to continue the manufacturing of pickup reels. The acquired assets and operations are reported with our agricultural products segment. For detailed financial information related to the acquisition, see Note 10, “Acquisitions.” On June 25, 2013, the Company acquired the fixed assets, raw material inventory, work-in-progress inventory and select finished goods inventory of Agro Trend, a division of Rojac Industries, Inc. of Clifford, Ontario, Canada. Agro Trend distributes agricultural equipment and manufactures commercial snow blowers and agricultural trailers. Most of the existing Agro Trend operational team was retained to continue the manufacture of snow blowers and trailers. The acquired assets and operations are reported with our agricultural products segment. For specific financial information related to the acquisition, see Note 10, “Acquisitions.” On September 30, 2013, the Company acquired the assets of Ohio Metal Working Products Company in Canton, Ohio consisting of inventory, equipment, real property, and intangible assets. Ohio Metal Working Products Company is a domestic manufacturer and distributor of standard single point brazed carbide tipped tools as well as PCD (polycrystalline diamond) and CBN (cubic boron nitride) inserts and tools. The existing Ohio Metal Working Products Company operational team was retained to continue the manufacturing of the carbide, PCD, and CBN tipped tools and inserts. The acquired assets and operations will be reported in a new segment for financial reporting purposes. The purchase occurred after August 31, 2013, and is not included in the condensed consolidated financial statements. For more information related to the acquisition, see Note 13, “Subsequent Event.”

Note 1 - Description of the Company

9 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2013

1) Description of the Company

Unless otherwise specified, as used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Art’s-Way,” and the “Company,” refer to Art’s-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in Armstrong, Iowa, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

We began operations as a farm equipment manufacturer in 1956. Since that time, we have become a major worldwide manufacturer of agricultural equipment. Our principal manufacturing plant is located in Armstrong, Iowa.

We have historically organized our business into three operating segments. Management separately evaluates the financial results of each segment because each is a strategic business unit offering different products and requiring different technology and marketing strategies. Our agricultural products segment (“Manufacturing”) manufactures farm equipment under the Art’s-Way Manufacturing label and private labels. Our pressurized vessels segment (“Vessels”) manufactures pressurized vessels and our modular buildings segment (“Scientific”) manufactures modular buildings for various uses, commonly animal containment and research laboratories. For detailed financial information relating to segment reporting, see Note 12, “Segment Information.”

On May 10, 2012, the Company acquired the assets of Universal Harvester Co., Inc. consisting of inventory, equipment, land, building, goodwill, and intangible assets. Universal Harvester Co., Inc. manufactured pickup reels for combines and swathers. The existing Universal Harvester Co., Inc. operational team was hired on May 11, 2012 to continue the manufacturing of pickup reels. The acquired assets and operations are reported with our agricultural products segment. For detailed financial information related to the acquisition, see Note 10, “Acquisitions.”

On June 25, 2013, the Company acquired the fixed assets, raw material inventory, work-in-progress inventory and select finished goods inventory of Agro Trend, a division of Rojac Industries, Inc. of Clifford, Ontario, Canada. Agro Trend distributes agricultural equipment and manufactures commercial snow blowers and agricultural trailers. Most of the existing Agro Trend operational team was retained to continue the manufacture of snow blowers and trailers. The acquired assets and operations are reported with our agricultural products segment. For specific financial information related to the acquisition, see Note 10, “Acquisitions.”

On September 30, 2013, the Company acquired the assets of Ohio Metal Working Products Company in Canton, Ohio consisting of inventory, equipment, real property, and intangible assets. Ohio Metal Working Products Company is a domestic manufacturer and distributor of standard single point brazed carbide tipped tools as well as PCD (polycrystalline diamond) and CBN (cubic boron nitride) inserts and tools. The existing Ohio Metal Working Products Company operational team was retained to continue the manufacturing of the carbide, PCD, and CBN tipped tools and inserts. The acquired assets and operations will be reported in a new segment for financial reporting purposes. The purchase occurred after August 31, 2013, and is not included in the condensed consolidated financial statements. For more information related to the acquisition, see Note 13, “Subsequent Event.”