Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity [Domain] Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Legal Entity [Axis] Document Type Investment [Axis] Investment [Domain] AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] AOCI Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Award Type [Axis] ASU 2015-03 [Member] Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,215 in 2017 and $3,901 in 2016 Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table] Amortization of Cash Flows Hedge [Member] Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Amortization of Cash Flows Hedge [Member] Amortization of Cash Flows Hedge [Member] Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BY COMPONENT [Abstract] Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional paid-in capital Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis] Share-based compensation expense Share-based compensation costs incurred Accounts receivable, allowance Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares) Total assets ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Total assets Assets Current assets: Total current assets Assets, Current Buildings and Improvements [Member] Building and Building Improvements [Member] BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Business Acquisition [Axis] Acquired assets recognized and measured at fair value Accrual for property, plant and equipment purchased during the period Machinery and equipment Capital Leased Assets, Gross Amount payable through the end of lease term Capital leased assets, net Capital Leases, Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Net Equipment under capital leases included in property, plant and equipment [Abstract] Less accumulated amortization Interest included in lease payments Carrying Value [Member] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Class of Stock [Line Items] Variable Interest Entities, Classification [Domain] DNP [Member] Co-venturer [Member] COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and contingencies COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract] Common Stock [Member] Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000 shares authorized, 68,547 shares issued and outstanding at July 30, 2017 and 68,080 shares issued and outstanding at October 30, 2016 Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Table] Construction in Progress [Member] Convertible senior notes Convertible debt Convertible Notes [Member] Depreciation and amortization expense Cost of sales Cost of sales Cost of Goods Sold Costs and expenses: Credit Facility [Domain] Credit Facility [Axis] Debt Issuance Costs [Abstract] Debt Issuance Costs, Net, Alternative [Abstract] Debt Instrument [Axis] Conversion price per share (in dollars per share) Conversion of debt to common stock Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount Repayment period of debt Debt Instrument, Term LONG-TERM BORROWINGS [Abstract] Conversion of debt to common stock (in shares) Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued Maturity date of debt Interest rate percentage Interest rate Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Number of shares each note is convertible to (in shares) Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Equity Instruments Face amount of debt Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Frequency of periodic payment Debt Issuance Costs Policy Debt, Policy [Policy Text Block] Periodic payments Amount of reasonably possible decrease in uncertain tax positions Decrease in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Noncurrent Depreciation and amortization RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block] Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract] SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract] SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Subsidiary dividend Subsidiary dividends declared Dividends Europe [Member] Diluted (in dollars per share) Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted EARNINGS PER SHARE Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract] Basic (in dollars per share) Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share) Earnings per share: EARNINGS PER SHARE [Abstract] Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents U.S. statutory rate Compensation cost not yet recognized related to unvested restricted stock awards Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested option awards Income tax benefits realized from stock option exercises Stock Options [Member] Employee Stock Option [Member] Share-based compensation cost capitalized Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount Period for recognition of compensation cost not yet recognized CHANGES IN EQUITY [Abstract] Equity Component [Domain] Gain on sale of equity method investment JOINT VENTURE, TECHNOLOGY LICENSE AND OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC. [Abstract] JOINT VENTURE, TECHNOLOGY LICENSE AND OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC. Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value [Member] Fair Value Financial Instruments Policy Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block] Measurement Basis [Axis] Measurement Frequency [Axis] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value, Measurement Frequency [Domain] FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] Fair Value Measurement [Domain] Fair and carrying values of the Company's convertible senior notes [Abstract] Financial Instruments, Financial Liabilities, Balance Sheet Groupings [Abstract] Foreign Tax Authority [Member] Furniture, Fixtures and Office Equipment [Member] Furniture and Fixtures [Member] Gain on sale of investment Gain on sale of investment Gain on sale of investment Gross profit INCOME TAXES [Abstract] Income before income tax provision Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Income Tax Authority [Axis] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) [Abstract] INCOME TAXES Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Tax Authority [Domain] Income tax holiday termination date Income Tax Holiday [Table] Income tax provision Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Per share effect of income tax holiday (in dollars per share) Dollar effect of income tax holiday Income Tax Holiday [Line Items] Income Tax Holiday [Line Items] Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and other Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Changes in assets and liabilities: Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Share-based payment awards (in shares) Convertible notes (in shares) Intangible assets, net Interest expense Interest and Debt Expense Interest expense on convertible notes, net of tax INVENTORIES Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Inventories Inventory Inventory, Net Finished goods INVENTORIES [Abstract] Raw materials Work in process Inventory Policy Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Land [Member] Leasehold Improvements [Member] Total liabilities and equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities Liabilities LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Total liabilities Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities: Amount outstanding under credit facility Current borrowing capacity Maximum borrowing capacity Available borrowing capacity Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity Long-term debt and capital lease obligations Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities Long-term borrowings [Abstract] Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities [Abstract] Long-term borrowings Long-term debt and capital lease obligations non current Long-term Borrowings LONG-TERM BORROWINGS Long-term Debt [Text Block] Current portion of long-term borrowings Less current portion Machinery and Equipment [Member] Machinery and Equipment [Member] Maximum [Member] Minimum [Member] Repurchase of common stock by subsidiary Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests Ownership percentage of noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling interests SUBSIDIARY DIVIDEND Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block] Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] Ownership percentage in joint venture Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Earnings for diluted earnings per share Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Diluted Cash flows from financing activities: Cash flows from investing activities: Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders Net income attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Recent Accounting Pronouncements RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS [Abstract] Equipment acquired in exchange for product Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Fixed Assets Acquired Other income (expense): SUBSIDIARY DIVIDEND [Abstract] Non-controlling Interests [Member] Operating income Operating Income (Loss) Operating Loss Carryforwards [Table] Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax Amortization of cash flow hedge Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI on Derivatives, Net of Tax Net other comprehensive income Other comprehensive income Foreign currency translation adjustments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BY COMPONENT GAIN ON SALE OF INVESTMENT [Abstract] Other assets Other Assets Other current assets Other Assets, Current Other comprehensive income, net of tax of $0: Other comprehensive income, tax Other comprehensive income, tax GAIN ON SALE OF INVESTMENT Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Other income tax expense (benefit) Other liabilities Interest and other income (expense), net Less: other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Products and Services [Domain] Other Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests Subsidiary dividends paid Acquisition of business Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross Purchases of property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Portion at Fair Value Measurement [Member] Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Other Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Proceeds from sale of equity method investment Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments Proceeds from sale of investment Cash received from option exercises Proceeds from share-based arrangements Products and Services [Axis] Net income Net income Net income Property, plant and equipment PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT [Abstract] Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, gross PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property, plant and equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] Useful life of long-lived assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] Outstanding commitments for capital expenditure Range [Domain] Range [Axis] Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax Repayments of long-term borrowings Repayments of Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Research and development Research and development expenses Research and Development Expense Change Due to Adoption [Member] Restatement Adjustment [Member] Restricted Stock [Member] Retained earnings Retained Earnings [Member] Credit Facility [Member] Contractual term Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period Expected term Weighted average remaining contractual life, Exercisable at end of period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Aggregate intrinsic value, Exercisable at end of period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value Weighted average remaining contractual life, Outstanding at end of period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Net sales Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Previously Reported [Member] Information on outstanding and exercisable option awards Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block] Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share Consolidated changes in equity Components of inventory Equipment under capital leases included in property, plant and equipment Schedule of Capital Leased Assets [Table Text Block] Weighted-average inputs and risk-free rate of return ranges used to calculate the grant date fair value of options Effect on financial statement condensed consolidated balance sheet Fair and carrying values of convertible senior notes Schedule of Investments [Table] Long-term borrowings Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block] Schedule of Investments [Line Items] Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component Outstanding securities excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings or loss per share Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table] Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Table] Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table] Schedule of Stock by Class [Table] Geographical [Domain] Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense Award vesting period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract] Share options granted (in shares) Exercisable at end of period (in shares) Dividend yield Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards (in dollar per share) Restricted stock awards granted (in shares) Volatility Stock options, additional disclosures [Abstract] Risk free rate of return Weighted-average inputs and risk-free rate of return ranges used to calculate the grant date fair value of options [Abstract] Number of shares of restricted stock outstanding (in shares) Weighted average exercise price, Exercisable at end of period (in dollar per share) Maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued (in shares) Restricted Stock [Abstract] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] Aggregate intrinsic value, Outstanding at end of period Weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollar per share) Weighted average exercise price, Outstanding at end of period (in dollar per share) Date and terms of plan modification Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Plan Modification, Description and Terms Outstanding at end of period (in shares) Outstanding and exercisable option awards [Abstract] Equity Award [Domain] Share-based Compensation Accounting Policy Ending balance (in shares) Beginning balance (in shares) Shares, Outstanding Geographical [Axis] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) [Abstract] Scenario [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Restricted stock awards vesting and expense Restricted stock awards vesting and expense (in shares) Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans (in shares) Share-Based Payment Awards [Member] Stock Compensation Plan [Member] Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans Total equity Beginning balance Ending balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Beginning Balance Ending Balance Total Photronics, Inc. shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Equity: Other Stockholders' Equity, Other CHANGES IN EQUITY Subsequent Event Type [Domain] Subsequent Event Type [Axis] Subsequent Event [Member] Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information: Tax incurred withheld upon the completion of a foreign subsidiary's share redemption Taxes, Miscellaneous Type of Adoption [Domain] Reduction of unrecognized tax benefit due to settlements Interest and penalties accrued related to uncertain tax positions Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued Unrecognized tax benefits Valuation allowance change Variable Interest Entities [Axis] Loss from variable interest entity Variable Interest Entity, Measure of Activity, Operating Income or Loss Variable interest entity, methodology for determining whether entity is primary beneficiary Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract] Incremental Weighted Average Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect [Abstract] Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares) Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Basic (in shares) Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares) Diluted (in shares) Weighted-average common shares used for diluted earnings per share (in shares) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: Weighted-average common shares computations [Abstract] Korea [Member] Taiwan [Member] United States [Member] Amount anticipated to be invested to construct and equip new facility. Planned Amount of Investment in New Facility Planned amount of investment in new facility Refers to wholly owned Singapore subsidiary. PLAB Singapore [Member] Refers to term over which company will invest the planned amount of investment in the foreign country. Term of Planned Investment in Foreign Country Investment funding term Represents one of the products of the entity. Flat Panel Displays [Member] FPD Manufacturing Facility [Member] The Company's IC manufacturing plant in Xiamen, China. Photronics DNP Mask Corporation Xiamen PDMCX [Member] PDMCX [Member] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] The entire disclosure for the Company's announced expansion into China. Expansion into Foreign Country [Text Block] EXPANSION INTO CHINA EXPANSION INTO CHINA [Abstract] Amount of payment for assets acquired that is deferred for not more than one year. Payment held back on asset acquisition Payment held back on asset acquisition This line item represents the number of manufacturing facilities of the entity. Number of manufacturing facilities Number of manufacturing facilities 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. Manufacturing Facilities By Geographical Region [Line Items] Manufacturing Facilities By Geographical Region [Line Items] Describes the operating facilities of the reporting entity by geographical region. Manufacturing Facilities by Geographical Region [Table] The joint venture variable interest entity. MP Mask [Member] MP Mask [Member] Represents return of capital to noncontrolling interests. Return of capital to noncontrolling interests Return of capital to noncontrolling interests Refers to investment in foreign entity. Investment in Foreign Entity [Member] Effect of a retrospective correction of an error, other prior year adjustment, or application of a new accounting pronouncement on a financial statement line item or any per share amounts. The cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or net assets in the statement of financial position would also be represented under this domain member. Retrospectively Adjusted [Member] Retrospectively Adjusted [Member] A borrowing recorded for a lease meeting the criteria for capitalization. A lease is defined as an agreement conveying the right to use property, plant, or equipment (land or depreciable assets) usually for a stated period of time. Capital lease obligation payable through 2018 [Member] 2.77% Capital Lease Obligation Payable through July 2018 [Member] Written promise to pay a note which can be exchanged for a specified quantity of securities (typically common stock), at the option of the issuer or the holder. Convertible senior notes due on April 2016 [Member] 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in April 2016 [Member] Written promise to pay a note which can be exchanged for a specified quantity of securities (typically common stock), at the option of the issuer or the holder. Convertible Senior Notes Due On April2019 [Member] 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due on April 2019 [Member] 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in April 2019 [Member] This line item represents the face amount of each note converted or convertible to common stock. Face Amount Of Each Note Converted Or Convertible Face amount of each note converted The Company's IC manufacturing plant in Taiwan. Photronics DNP Mask Corporation (PDMC) [Member] PDMC [Member] The Company's FPD manufacturing facility in Taiwan PKLT [Member] Changes to accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest resulting from other. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Other [Member] Other [Member] Changes to accumulated other comprehensive income including portion attributable to non-controlling interest resulting from other. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Other [Member] Other [Member] Changes to accumulated comprehensive income resulting from other. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Other [Member] Other [Member] Stock options activity [Abstract]