EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May. 01, 2016	May. 03, 2015	May. 01, 2016	May. 03, 2015
Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 11,854	$ 10,060	$ 32,856	$ 13,897
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Interest expense on convertible notes, net of related tax effects	875	1,071	1,946	1,071
Earnings for diluted earnings per share	$ 12,729	$ 11,131	$ 34,802	$ 14,968
Weighted-average common shares computations [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares)	67,372	66,230	67,090	66,148
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible notes (in shares)	9,196	11,084	10,140	5,542
Share-based payment awards (in shares)	948	914	1,096	934
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	10,144	11,998	11,236	6,476
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	77,516	78,228	78,326	72,624
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.49	$ 0.21
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.14	$ 0.44	$ 0.21
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)	2,160	1,654	1,414	7,163
Share-Based Payment Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)	2,160	1,654	1,414	1,621
Convertible Notes [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)	0	0	0	5,542