| **EARNINGS PER SHARE AND TREASURY STOCK TRANSACTIONS (Tables)**                              | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
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| **EARNINGS PER SHARE AND TREASURY STOCK TRANSACTIONS [Abstract]**                            | Â                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Schedule of Weighted Average Number of Shares [Table Text Block]                             | The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators utilized in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share. Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended August 27, 2011 August 28, 2010 August 27, 2011 August 28, 2010Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic50,527,206 50,796,393 50,563,556 50,700,066Dilutive effect of stock-based arrangements673,035 452,564 693,065 445,005Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted51,200,241 51,248,957 51,256,621 51,145,071        Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.$32,070 $28,326 $86,759 $67,077        Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Basic$0.63 $0.56 $1.72 $1.32Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted$0.63 $0.55 $1.69 $1.31   |
| Additional Information Earnings Per Share and Treasury Stock Transactions [Table Text Block] | The following table provides additional information regarding the calculation of earnings per share and treasury stock transactions.   Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended August 27, 2011 August 28, 2010 August 27, 2011 August 28, 2010Number of antidilutive options with exercises prices greater than the average market price excluded from the computation of dilutive earnings per share60,000 347,350 60,000 646,349Common stock repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program$9,312 $10,009 $18,204 $10,009Number of shares repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program222,051 288,842 427,051 288,842                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |

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Additional Information Earnings Per Share and Treasury Stock Transactions [Table Text Block]
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Earnings Per Share and Treasury Stock Transactions [Abstract]
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Tabular disclosure of the weighted average number of shares used in calculating basic net earnings per share (or unit) and diluted earnings per share (or unit).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Publisher FASB -Number  -Article  -Subparagraph  -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 1 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257
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