SUBSIDIARY SHARE REPURCHASE AND TENDER OFFER (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2014	Jul. 28, 2013	Aug. 03, 2014	Jul. 28, 2013	Aug. 03, 2014 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Jul. 28, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Aug. 03, 2014 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Jul. 28, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Aug. 03, 2014 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Jul. 28, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Aug. 03, 2014 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Jul. 28, 2013 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Feb. 02, 2014 PSMC [Member]	Jan. 27, 2013 PSMC [Member]	Jul. 28, 2013 PSMC [Member]	Nov. 03, 2013 PSMC [Member]	Oct. 28, 2012 PSMC [Member]	Jul. 28, 2013 PDMC [Member]	Jul. 28, 2013 PDMC [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Subsidiary shares acquired (in shares)			3.0										3.0	9.2	9.2	51.4		50.3	59.4
Payment to minority shareholders			$ 0	$ 31,627									$ 1,700	$ 4,200		$ 28,100
Ownership percentage in subsidiary (in hundredths)													100.00%	75.11%		98.63%	72.09%
Common stock issued by subsidiary (in shares)			112.9
Effect of the change in the entity's ownership interest in PSMC [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	4,186	5,940	21,719	13,126
Increase (decrease) in Photronics, Inc.'s additional paid-in capital and accumulated other comprehensive income		(202)		(229)	0	360	(6,182)	939	0	(202)	399	(229)
Change from net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders due to issuance of shares of PDMC and transfers to and from noncontrolling interest	$ 4,186	$ 6,098	$ 15,936	$ 13,836