Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 02, 2015	Aug. 03, 2014	Aug. 02, 2015	Aug. 03, 2014
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 131,699	$ 124,852	$ 382,513	$ 331,276
Cost and expenses:
Cost of sales	(94,456)	(96,202)	(283,991)	(257,554)
Selling, general and administrative	(12,430)	(12,394)	(36,795)	(38,092)
Research and development	(6,253)	(5,199)	(16,743)	(16,111)
Operating income	18,560	11,057	44,984	19,519
Other income (expense):
Gain on acquisition	0	0	0	16,372
Interest expense	(1,209)	(1,809)	(3,812)	(5,610)
Interest and other income (expense), net	1,449	641	1,312	2,346
Income before income tax provision	18,800	9,889	42,484	32,627
Income tax provision	(3,390)	(2,545)	(7,775)	(7,291)
Net income	15,410	7,344	34,709	25,336
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,304)	(3,158)	(8,706)	(3,617)
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 12,106	$ 4,186	$ 26,003	$ 21,719
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.07	$ 0.39	$ 0.35
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.07	$ 0.37	$ 0.34
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	66,454	61,436	66,250	61,336
Diluted (in shares)	78,569	62,432	78,300	77,706