EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Nov. 01, 2015	Aug. 02, 2015	May. 03, 2015	Feb. 01, 2015	[1]	Nov. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2014	May. 04, 2014	[2],[3]	Feb. 02, 2014	[4]	Nov. 01, 2015		Nov. 02, 2014		Nov. 03, 2013
Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders		$ 18,622	$ 12,106	$ 10,060	$ 3,837		$ 4,277	$ 4,186	$ 15,540		$ 1,993		$ 44,625	[1]	$ 25,996	[3],[5]	$ 17,966
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Interest expense on convertible notes, net of related tax effects													4,363		1,426		0
Earnings for diluted earnings per share													$ 48,988		$ 27,422		$ 17,966
Weighted-average common shares computations [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares)													66,331		61,779		60,644
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible notes (in shares)													11,085		3,945		0
Share-based payment awards (in shares)													967		955		813
Common stock warrants (in shares)													0		0		142
Dilutive common shares (in shares)													12,052		4,900		955
Weighted-average common shares used for diluted earnings per share (in shares)													78,383		66,679		61,599
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.28	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.06		$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.25		$ 0.03		$ 0.67	[1]	$ 0.42	[3],[5]	$ 0.30
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.25	$ 0.17	$ 0.14	$ 0.06		$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.22		$ 0.03		$ 0.63	[1]	$ 0.41	[3],[5]	$ 0.29
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)													1,641		12,996		9,048
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Share-based payment awards issued after fiscal year 2015 (in shares)	700
Share-based Payment Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)													1,641		1,911		2,880
Convertible Notes [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares)													0		11,085		6,168

[1] Includes expenses of $0.9 million of financing expenses related to the exchange of $57.5 million 3.25% convertible senior notes.

[2] Includes expenses of $2.0 million, net of tax, related to the acquisition of DPTT.

[3] Includes non-cash gain of $16.4 million, net of tax, related to the acquisition of DPTT.

[4] Includes expenses of $0.5 million, net of tax, related to the acquisition of DPTT.

[5] Includes expenses of $2.5 million, net of tax, related to the acquisition of DPTT.