SUBSIDIARY SHARE REPURCHASE (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended												1 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2012	Jul. 29, 2012	Apr. 29, 2012	Jan. 29, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011	May 01, 2011	Jan. 30, 2011	Oct. 28, 2012	Oct. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 28, 2012 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Oct. 28, 2012 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Oct. 28, 2012 PSMC [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 PSMC [Member]	Oct. 31, 2010 PSMC [Member]	Nov. 25, 2012 PSMC [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Stock repurchased for retirement by PSMC (in shares)																		35.9	21.6		9.2
Stock repurchased for retirement by PSMC									$ 15,598	$ 9,878	$ 0							$ 15,598	$ 9,878		$ 4,200
Ownership percentage in PSMC (in hundredths)																		72.09%	62.25%	57.53%	75.11%
Effect of the change in the entity's ownership interest in PSMC [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	3,832	10,950	8,818	4,268	9,291	11,265	(16,438)	12,111	27,868	16,229	23,922
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Changes, Repurchase of Shares by Subsidiary												1,985	(201)	0	(78)	0	0
Change from net income attributable to Photronics' Inc. shareholders and transfer to or from noncontrolling interest									$ 29,775	$ 16,028	$ 23,922