Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May. 01, 2016	May. 03, 2015	May. 01, 2016	May. 03, 2015
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 122,923	$ 127,309	$ 252,879	$ 250,814
Cost and expenses:
Cost of sales	(91,636)	(94,214)	(186,156)	(189,535)
Selling, general and administrative	(11,024)	(12,421)	(23,222)	(24,365)
Research and development	(5,447)	(5,809)	(11,148)	(10,490)
Operating income	14,816	14,865	32,353	26,424
Other income (expense):
Gain on sale of investment	0	0	8,785	0
Interest expense	(964)	(1,233)	(2,138)	(2,603)
Interest and other income (expense), net	(2,025)	(224)	27	(137)
Income before income tax benefit (provision)	11,827	13,408	39,027	23,684
Income tax benefit (provision)	2,326	(1,252)	(1,374)	(4,386)
Net income	14,153	12,156	37,653	19,298
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,299)	(2,096)	(4,797)	(5,401)
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 11,854	$ 10,060	$ 32,856	$ 13,897
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.49	$ 0.21
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.14	$ 0.44	$ 0.21
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	67,372	66,230	67,090	66,148
Diluted (in shares)	77,516	78,228	78,326	72,624