Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 609,691	$ 550,660	$ 535,276
Cost of goods sold	475,037	429,819	403,773
Gross profit	134,654	120,841	131,503
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	53,582	52,326	51,395
Research and development	17,144	16,394	14,481
Total operating expenses	70,726	68,720	65,876
Operating income	63,928	52,121	65,627
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(2,367)	(1,425)	(2,262)
Interest income and other income (expense), net	541	1,271	4,829
Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net	(501)	(1,266)	377
Income before income tax provision	61,601	50,701	68,571
Income tax provision	21,258	10,210	7,335
Net income	40,343	40,491	61,236
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6,523	10,698	19,181
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 33,820	$ 29,793	$ 42,055
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.45	$ 0.61
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.44	$ 0.59
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	64,866	66,347	68,829
Diluted (in shares)	65,470	69,155	74,821