Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2014	Jan. 19, 2015	May 31, 2014
Entity Registrant Name	ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000007623
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--11-30
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		4,048,552
Entity Public Float			$ 12,759,986
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Nov. 30, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false