QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended		12 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	Jun. 30, 2011 5.50% convertible senior notes due on October 1, 2014 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 5.50% convertible senior notes due on October 1, 2014 [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 5.50% convertible senior notes due on October 1, 2014 [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 104,218,000		$ 116,616,000	$ 117,451,000		$ 112,154,000		$ 122,159,000		$ 135,935,000		$ 133,103,000		$ 120,823,000		$ 450,439,000		$ 512,020,000		$ 425,554,000
Gross Profit	24,297,000	[1]	32,304,000	29,861,000	[2]	25,458,000	[3],[4]	30,893,000	[5]	38,240,000	[5],[6]	36,486,000	[7],[8]	30,594,000	[9]	111,920,000	[1],[2],[3],[4]	136,214,000	[10],[11]
Net income (loss)	4,217,000		11,267,000	9,530,000		4,841,000		9,035,000		12,622,000		(15,033,000)		13,584,000		29,855,000		20,208,000		25,082,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	3,832,000		10,950,000	8,818,000		4,268,000		9,291,000		11,265,000		(16,438,000)		12,111,000		27,868,000		16,229,000		23,922,000
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06		$ 0.18	$ 0.15		$ 0.07		$ 0.16		$ 0.19		$ (0.3)		$ 0.23		$ 0.46		$ 0.28		$ 0.45
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06		$ 0.16	$ 0.14		$ 0.07		$ 0.14		$ 0.16		$ (0.3)		$ 0.20		$ 0.44		$ 0.28		$ 0.43
Subsequent measurement of common stock warrants at fair value, net of tax						100,000		200,000		200,000		(700,000)		(100,000)				(400,000)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt extinguishment loss net of tax																					(5,000,000)	(30,300,000)	(35,300,000)
Face amount of debt repurchased																					5,000,000	30,400,000	35,400,000
Consolidation and restructuring charges (credits)	$ 200,000			$ 100,000		$ 1,100,000										$ 1,428,000		$ 0		$ (4,979,000)

[1] Includes consolidation and restructuring charges of $0.2 million, net of tax, in connection with the discontinuance of manufacturing operations at the Company's Singapore facility.

[2] Includes consolidation and restructuring charges of $0.1 million, net of tax, in connection with the discontinuance of manufacturing operations at the Company's Singapore facility.

[3] Includes consolidation and restructuring charges of $1.1 million, net of tax, in connection with the discontinuance of manufacturing operations at the Company's Singapore facility.

[4] Includes non-cash gain of $0.1 million, net of tax, in connection with subsequent measurement at fair value of warrants issued to purchase the Company's stock.

[5] Includes non-cash gain of $0.2 million, net of tax, in connection with subsequent measurement at fair value of warrants used to purchase the Company's stock.

[6] Includes debt extinguishment loss of $5.0 million, net of tax, in connection with the acquisition of $5.0 million principal amount of the Company's 5.5% convertible senior notes, with original maturity date of October 2014.

[7] Includes non-cash loss of $0.7 million, net of tax, in connection with subsequent measurement at fair value of warrants used to purchase the Company's stock.

[8] Includes debt extinguishment loss of $30.3 million, net of tax, in connection with the acquisition of $30.4 million principal amount of the Company's 5.5% convertible senior notes, with original maturity date of October 2014.

[9] Includes non-cash loss of $0.1 million, net of tax, in connection with subsequent measurement at fair value of warrants issued to purchase the Company's stock.

[10] Includes non-cash loss of $0.4 million, net of tax, in connection with subsequent measurement at fair value of warrants used to purchase the Company's stock.

[11] Includes debt extinguishment loss of $35.3 million, net of tax, in connection with the acquisition of $35.4 million principal amount of the Company's 5.5% convertible senior notes, with original maturity date of October 2014