Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Aug. 02, 2015	Jul. 31, 2016	Aug. 02, 2015
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 123,209	$ 131,699	$ 376,088	$ 382,513
Cost and expenses:
Cost of sales	(91,759)	(94,456)	(277,915)	(283,991)
Selling, general and administrative	(11,163)	(12,430)	(34,386)	(36,795)
Research and development	(5,466)	(6,253)	(16,613)	(16,743)
Operating income	14,821	18,560	47,174	44,984
Other income (expense):
Gains on sales of investments	157	0	8,940	0
Interest expense	(612)	(1,209)	(2,750)	(3,812)
Interest and other income (expense), net	1,849	1,449	1,878	1,312
Income before income tax provision	16,215	18,800	55,242	42,484
Income tax provision	(4,762)	(3,390)	(6,136)	(7,775)
Net income	11,453	15,410	49,106	34,709
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,365)	(3,304)	(8,162)	(8,706)
Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders	$ 8,088	$ 12,106	$ 40,944	$ 26,003
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.18	$ 0.61	$ 0.39
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.17	$ 0.56	$ 0.37
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	67,953	66,454	67,377	66,250
Diluted (in shares)	74,317	78,569	76,990	78,300