EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 29, 2018	Apr. 29, 2018	[1]	Jan. 28, 2018	Oct. 29, 2017	Jul. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	[1]	Jan. 29, 2017	Oct. 31, 2018		Oct. 29, 2017		Oct. 30, 2016
Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 12,487	$ 13,005	$ 10,665		$ 5,898	$ 5,386	$ 4,001	$ 1,797		$ 1,946	$ 42,055	[1]	$ 13,130	[1]	$ 46,200
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Interest expense on convertible notes, net of tax											1,999		0		2,938
Earnings used for diluted earnings per share											$ 44,054		$ 13,130		$ 49,138
Weighted-average common shares computations [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares)											68,829		68,436		67,539
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible notes (in shares)											5,542		0		7,841
Share-based payment awards (in shares)											450		852		974
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)											5,992		852		8,815
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted earnings per share (in shares)											74,821		69,288		76,354
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.19	$ 0.15		$ 0.09	$ 0.08	$ 0.06	$ 0.03		$ 0.03	$ 0.61	[1]	$ 0.19	[1]	$ 0.68
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.15		$ 0.09	$ 0.08	$ 0.06	$ 0.03		$ 0.03	$ 0.59	[1]	$ 0.19	[1]	$ 0.64
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)											1,627		6,850		1,635
Share based Payment Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)											1,627		1,308		1,635
Convertible Notes [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)											0		5,542		0

[1] Includes $0.6 million gain on sale of assets.