EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 4,001	$ 8,088	$ 7,745	$ 40,944
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Interest expense on convertible notes, net of tax	0	496	0	2,442
Earnings for diluted earnings per share	$ 4,001	$ 8,584	$ 7,745	$ 43,386
Weighted-average common shares computations [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares)	68,525	67,953	68,376	67,377
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Share-based payment awards (in shares)	855	822	935	1,006
Convertible notes (in shares)	0	5,542	0	8,607
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	855	6,364	935	9,613
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	69,380	74,317	69,311	76,990
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ 0.61
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ 0.56
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)	6,629	2,016	6,596	1,615
Convertible Notes [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)	5,542	0	5,542	0
Share-Based Payment Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)	1,087	2,016	1,054	1,615