SUBSIDIARY SHARE REPURCHASE AND TENDER OFFER (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	May 04, 2014	Apr. 28, 2013	May 04, 2014	Apr. 28, 2013	May 04, 2014 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Apr. 28, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	May 04, 2014 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Apr. 28, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	May 04, 2014 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Apr. 28, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	May 04, 2014 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Apr. 28, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Feb. 02, 2014 PSMC [Member]	Jan. 27, 2013 PSMC [Member]	Apr. 28, 2013 PSMC [Member]	Nov. 03, 2013 PSMC [Member]	Oct. 28, 2012 PSMC [Member]	May 04, 2014 PDMC [Member]	May 04, 2014 PDMC [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Subsidiary shares acquired (in shares)													3.0	9.2	9.2	51.4
Payment to minority shareholders			$ 0	$ 4,190									$ 1,700	$ 4,200		$ 28,100
Ownership percentage in subsidiary (in hundredths)	50.01%		50.01%										100.00%	75.11%		98.63%	72.09%
Common stock issued by subsidiary (in shares)																		112.9	112.9
Effect of the change in the entity's ownership interest in PSMC [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	15,540	4,863	17,533	7,187
Increase (decrease) in Photronics, Inc.'s additional paid-in capital and accumulated other comprehensive income				(27)	(6,218)	0	(6,182)	579	411	0	399	(27)
Change from net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders due to issuance of shares of PDMC and transfers to and from noncontrolling interest	$ 9,733	$ 4,863	$ 11,750	$ 7,739