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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Represents the number of majority owned subsidiaries.

No definition available.

Name:	plab_NumberOfMajorityOwnedSubsidiaries
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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This line item represents the number of manufacturing facilities of the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	plab_NumberOfManufacturingFacilities
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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Represents the period of warranty.

No definition available.

Name:	plab_PeriodOfWarranty
Namespace Prefix:	plab_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain recognized in the income statement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30700-110894

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
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Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingImprovementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=plab_PkLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=plab_PhotronicsDnpMaskCorporationPdmcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=us-gaap_EuropeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_TW
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_KR
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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