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|**EARNINGS PER SHARE AND TREASURY STOCK TRANSACTIONS (Note)**                                                                                           | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|**EARNINGS PER SHARE AND TREASURY STOCK TRANSACTIONS [Abstract]**                                                                                       | Â                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|EARNINGS PER SHARE AND TREASURY STOCK TRANSACTIONS                                                                                                      | EARNINGS PER SHARE AND TREASURY STOCK TRANSACTIONSDiluted 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 EndedAugust 27, 2011August 28, 2010August 27, 2011August 28, 2010Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic50,527,20650,796,39350,563,55650,700,066Dilutive effect of stock-based arrangements673,035452,564693,065445,005Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted51,200,24151,248,95751,256,62151,145,071Net earnings attributable to CLARCOR Inc.$32,070$28,326$86,759$67,077Net 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$1.31The following table provides additional information regarding the calculation of earnings per share and treasury stock transactions.Quarter EndedNine Months EndedAugust 27, 2011August 28, 2010August 27, 2011August 28, 2010Number of antidilutive options with exercises prices greater than the average market price excluded from the computation of dilutive earnings per share60,000347,35060,000646,349Common 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 program222,051288,842427,051288,842As ofAugust 27, 2011, there was approximately$215,519available under the Company’s$250,000stock repurchase program for future purchases.
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|                                                                                                                                                        | Quarter Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                                                        | August 27, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic                                                                                                   | 50,527,206                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
|Dilutive effect of stock-based arrangements                                                                                                             | 673,035                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted                                                                                                 | 51,200,241                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
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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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|                                                                                                                                                        | Quarter Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|                                                                                                                                                        | August 27, 2011                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
|Number of antidilutive options with exercises prices greater than the average market price excluded from the computation of dilutive earnings per share | 60,000                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|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                                                             | 222,051                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

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