Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 03, 2015	May 04, 2014	May 03, 2015	May 04, 2014
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 127,309	$ 104,882	$ 250,814	$ 206,424
Cost and expenses:
Cost of sales	(94,214)	(82,692)	(189,535)	(161,352)
Selling, general and administrative	(12,421)	(13,419)	(24,365)	(25,697)
Research and development	(5,809)	(5,939)	(10,490)	(10,913)
Operating income	14,865	2,832	26,424	8,462
Other income (expense):
Gain on acquisition	0	16,372	0	16,372
Interest expense	(1,233)	(1,816)	(2,603)	(3,800)
Interest and other income (expense), net	(224)	594	(137)	1,705
Income before income tax provision	13,408	17,982	23,684	22,739
Income tax provision	(1,252)	(2,032)	(4,386)	(4,747)
Net income	12,156	15,950	19,298	17,992
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,096)	(410)	(5,401)	(459)
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 10,060	$ 15,540	$ 13,897	$ 17,533
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.25	$ 0.21	$ 0.29
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.14	$ 0.22	$ 0.21	$ 0.27
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	66,230	61,372	66,148	61,286
Diluted (in shares)	78,228	77,705	72,624	77,632