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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V6eYP4KFsygHqUReWTBwW3AgbWsHWbUQUMu0cjp3CoNIU4zIIHSHwvxrX7R9hsVo
 y5Z5T4FqZ97OP+/afGlH5Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-030325.txt : 20101213
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-030325.hdr.sgml : 20101213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101213155743
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-030325
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIEDEROWICZ WALTER M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182406

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15451
		FILM NUMBER:		101247952

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15 SECOR ROAD
		CITY:			BROOKFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06804

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHOTRONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000810136
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				060854886
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15 SECOR ROAD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 5226
		CITY:			BROOKFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06804
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2037759000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		15 SECOR ROAD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 5226
		CITY:			BROOKFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06804

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PHOTRONIC LABS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900514
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000810136</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHOTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLAB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182406</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FIEDEROWICZ WALTER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>15 SECOR ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROOKFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06804</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richelle E. Burr, attorney-in-fact for Walter M. Fiederowicz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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