Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 111,579	$ 123,209	$ 329,707	$ 376,088
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	(89,862)	(91,759)	(264,835)	(277,915)
Gross profit	21,717	31,450	64,872	98,173
Selling, general and administrative	(11,639)	(11,163)	(33,403)	(34,386)
Research and development	(4,812)	(5,466)	(12,023)	(16,613)
Operating income	5,266	14,821	19,446	47,174
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income (expense), net	415	1,849	(4,182)	1,878
Interest expense	(549)	(612)	(1,657)	(2,750)
Gain on sale of investment	0	157	0	8,940
Income before income tax provision	5,132	16,215	13,607	55,242
Income tax provision	(333)	(4,762)	(2,814)	(6,136)
Net income	4,799	11,453	10,793	49,106
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(798)	(3,365)	(3,048)	(8,162)
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 4,001	$ 8,088	$ 7,745	$ 40,944
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ 0.61
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ 0.56
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	68,525	67,953	68,376	67,377
Diluted (in shares)	69,380	74,317	69,311	76,990