EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2017	Jul. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 29, 2017	Oct. 30, 2016	[1]	Jul. 31, 2016	May 01, 2016	[2]	Jan. 31, 2016	[3]	Oct. 29, 2017	Oct. 30, 2016		Nov. 01, 2015
Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 5,386	$ 4,001	$ 1,797	$ 1,946	$ 5,256		$ 8,088	$ 11,854		$ 21,002		$ 13,130	$ 46,200	[3],[4]	$ 44,625
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Interest expense on convertible notes, net of tax												0	2,938		4,363
Earnings for diluted earnings per share												$ 13,130	$ 49,138		$ 48,988
Weighted-average common shares computations [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares)												68,436	67,539		66,331
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Share-based payment awards (in shares)												852	974		967
Convertible notes (in shares)												0	7,841		11,085
Dilutive common shares (in shares)												852	8,815		12,052
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted earnings per share (in shares)												69,288	76,354		78,383
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.06	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.08		$ 0.12	$ 0.18		$ 0.31		$ 0.19	$ 0.68	[3],[4]	$ 0.67
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.06	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.08		$ 0.12	$ 0.16		$ 0.28		$ 0.19	$ 0.64	[3],[4]	$ 0.63
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)												6,850	1,635		1,641
Convertible Notes [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)												5,542	0		0
Share based Payment Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)												1,308	1,635		1,641

[1] Includes a tax benefit in Taiwan of $3.0 million related to the recognition of prior period tax benefits and other tax positions no longer deemed necessary.

[2] Includes a tax benefit in Taiwan of $1.8 million related to prior years.

[3] Includes $8.8 million gain on sale of investment in a foreign entity.

[4] Includes tax benefits in Taiwan of $4.8 million primarily related to the recognition of prior period tax benefits and other tax positions no longer deemed necessary.