| **Comprehensive Earnings (Tables)**                                          | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]**                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Comprehensive Income and AOCI [Table Text Block]                             | Total comprehensive earnings (loss) and its components are as follows: Total Comprehensive Earnings (Loss), Net of Tax: Net Earnings Foreign Currency andOther Adjustments Pension LiabilityAdjustments TotalComprehensiveEarnings (Loss)Quarter Ended       September 1, 2012       CLARCOR Inc.$30,270 $5,001 $1,072 $36,343Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests70 64 — 134Redeemable noncontrolling interests71 21 — 92 $30,411 $5,086 $1,072 $36,569August 27, 2011       CLARCOR Inc.$32,070 $(681) $711 $32,100Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests82 (190) — (108)Redeemable noncontrolling interests7 187 — 194 $32,159 $(684) $711 $32,186Nine Months EndedSeptember 1, 2012CLARCOR Inc.$86,676$(5,471)$3,237$84,442Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests6512—77Redeemable noncontrolling interests241(91)—150$86,982$(5,550)$3,237$84,669August 27, 2011CLARCOR Inc.$86,759$8,747$2,917$98,423Non-redeemable noncontrolling interests188(189)—(1)Redeemable noncontrolling interests1468—82$86,961$8,626$2,917$98,504          |
| Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] | The components of the ending balances of Accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows: September 1, 2012 December 3, 2011Pension liability, net of tax$(41,419) $(44,656)Translation adjustments, net of tax(5,206) 265Accumulated other comprehensive loss$(46,625) $(44,391)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669686-108580
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ScheduleOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of components of comprehensive income (loss) including, but not limited to: (a) foreign currency translation adjustments; (b) gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions that are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity; (c) gains (losses) on intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; (d) change in the market value of a futures contract that qualifies as a hedge of an asset reported at fair value; (e) unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and that resulting from transfers of debt securities from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category; (f) a net loss recognized as an additional pension liability not yet recognized as net periodic pension cost; and (g) the net gain (loss) and net prior service cost or credit for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e526-108580
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ScheduleOfComprehensiveIncomeLossTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeAndComprehensiveIncomeAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |