Refers to amount of investment, co-venturers plan to invest in joint venture.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	plab_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Refers to term over which company will invest the planned amount of investment in the foreign country.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	plab_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=plab_PhotronicsDnpMaskCorporationPdmcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_CoVenturerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=plab_PhotronicsDNPMaskCorporationXiamenPDMCXMember
Namespace Prefix:
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FORMATION OF PDMCX JOINT VENTURE (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	May 31, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017
Subsequent Event [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Investment funding term	5 years
PDMC [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Ownership percentage in joint venture	50.01%
DNP [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling interests		49.99%
DNP [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling interests	49.99%
PDMCX [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Planned amount of investment in joint venture	$ 160