Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--11-30
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-19417
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-2746201
Entity Registrant Name	PROGRESS SOFTWARE CORP /MA
Entity Central Index Key	0000876167
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Address, Address Line One	14 Oak Park
Entity Address, City or Town	Bedford
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	01730
City Area Code	781
Local Phone Number	280-4000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	PRGS
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		44,785,586