|**Earnings Per Share and Stock Repurchase Activity (Note)**                                                                                            | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
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|**Earnings Per Share and Stock Repurchase Activity [Abstract]**                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Earnings Per Share and Stock Repurchase Activity                                                                                                       | EARNINGS PER SHARE AND STOCK REPURCHASE ACTIVITYDiluted earnings per share reflect the impact of outstanding stock options as if exercised during the periods presented using the treasury stock method.  The following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators utilized in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share.Quarter EndedNine Months EndedSeptember 1, 2012August 27, 2011September 1, 2012August 27, 2011Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic50,283,34050,527,20650,357,56750,563,556Dilutive effect of stock-based arrangements580,554673,035621,975693,065Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted50,863,89451,200,24150,979,54251,256,621Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.$30,270$32,070$86,676$86,759Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. -Basic$0.60$0.63$1.72$1.72Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted$0.60$0.63$1.70$1.69The following table provides additional information regarding the calculation of earnings per share and stock repurchase activity.Quarter EndedNine Months EndedSeptember 1, 2012August 27, 2011September 1, 2012August 27, 2011Number of antidilutive options with exercise prices greater than the average market price excluded from the computation of dilutive earnings per share508,35060,000509,60060,000Common stock repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program$5,341$9,312$16,724$18,204Number of shares repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program110,300222,051337,800427,051As ofSeptember 1, 2012, there was approximately$187,682available under the Company’s$250,000stock repurchase program for future purchases.
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|Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Dilutive effect of stock-based arrangements                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
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|Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
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|Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. -Basic                                                                                             |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Net earnings per share attributable to CLARCOR Inc. - Diluted                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
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|Number of antidilutive options with exercise prices greater than the average market price excluded from the computation of dilutive earnings per share |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Common stock repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|Number of shares repurchased and retired pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

X- DefinitionIncludes the following two disclosures: 1) The complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's earnings per share and 2) Description of share repurchase program authorized by an entity's Board of Directors. Include also the allocation of amounts paid to purchase treasury stock.+ ReferencesNo definition available.+ Details**Name:**
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