Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date 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 Document Type AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] AOCI Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Award Type [Axis] Accounts payable Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,281 in 2016 and $3,301 in 2015 Amount receivable from Micron Technology, Inc. Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Amortization of Cash Flows Hedge [Member] Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member] Amortization of Cash Flows Hedge [Member] Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BY COMPONENT [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] Amortization of Cash Flows Hedge [Member] Accumulated other comprehensive loss Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional paid-in capital Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Share-based compensation expense Share-based compensation costs incurred Accounts receivable, allowance Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Total potentially dilutive shares excluded (in shares) Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Total assets Assets ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Total assets Current assets: Total current assets Assets, Current Buildings and Improvements [Member] Building and Building Improvements [Member] Business Acquisition [Axis] BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Capital leased assets, net Capital Leases, Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Net Machinery and equipment Capital Leased Assets, Gross Accrual for property, plant and equipment purchased during the period Interest included in lease payments Equipment under capital leases included in property, plant and equipment [Abstract] 3.09% Capital Lease Obligation Payable through March 2016 [Member] Capital Lease Obligations [Member] Amount payable through the end of lease term Less accumulated amortization 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 (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Class of Stock [Line Items] Variable Interest Entities, Classification [Domain] 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 issued (in shares) Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000 shares authorized, 67,968 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2016 and 66,602 shares issued and outstanding at November 1, 2015 Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Photronics, Inc. shareholders Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Construction in Progress [Member] Convertible senior notes Cost of sales Cost of sales Cost of Goods Sold Depreciation and amortization expense Cost and expenses: Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Domain] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Conversion price per share (in dollars per share) Conversion of debt to common stock LONG-TERM BORROWINGS [Abstract] Conversion of debt to common stock (in shares) Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued Repayment period of debt Debt Instrument, Term Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Original face amount of debt Debt Instrument, Face Amount Periodic payments Number of shares each note is convertible to (in shares) Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Equity Instruments Frequency of periodic payment Interest rate percentage Maturity date of debt Interest rate Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage 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 Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract] Subsidiary dividend Subsidiary dividend Amount owed to MP Mask Due to Related Parties, Current Europe [Member] 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) 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] Earnings per share: EARNINGS PER SHARE [Abstract] Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents U.S. statutory rate Share-based compensation cost capitalized Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount Income tax benefits realized from stock option exercises Period for recognition of compensation cost not yet recognized Compensation cost not yet recognized related to unvested restricted stock awards Stock Options [Member] Employee Stock Option [Member] Unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested option awards Cash received from option exercises 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 Frequency [Axis] FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract] Measurement Basis [Axis] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value, Measurement Frequency [Domain] Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] 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] Gains on sales of investments Gains on sales of investments INCOME TAXES [Abstract] Income Tax Authority [Axis] Income before income tax provision Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Income Tax Authority [Domain] INCOME TAXES Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income tax provision Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) [Abstract] Income tax holiday termination date Per share effect of income tax holiday (in dollars per share) Dollar effect of income tax holiday Income Tax Holiday [Table] Income Tax Holiday [Line Items] Income Tax Holiday [Line Items] Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Changes in assets and liabilities: 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 related tax effects Inventories Inventory, Net Investment in joint venture Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Land [Member] Leasehold Improvements [Member] Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities and equity Liabilities and Equity 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 borrowings [Abstract] Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities [Abstract] Long-term debt and capital lease obligations Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Including Current Maturities LONG-TERM BORROWINGS Long-term Debt [Text Block] Long-term borrowings Long-term debt and capital lease obligations non current Current portion of long-term borrowings Less current portion Machinery and Equipment [Member] Machinery and Equipment [Member] Maximum [Member] Minimum [Member] Ownership percentage of noncontrolling interests Repurchase of common stock of subsidiary Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests Noncontrolling Interest [Table] Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] SUBSIDIARY DIVIDEND Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block] Noncontrolling interests Cash flows from financing activities: Earnings for diluted earnings per share Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Diluted Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Cash flows from investing 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] Other income (expense): Non-controlling Interests [Member] SUBSIDIARY DIVIDEND [Abstract] Operating income Operating Income (Loss) BASIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION [Abstract] Amortization of cash flow hedge Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI on Derivatives, Net of Tax Total other comprehensive income (loss) Other comprehensive income (loss) Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustments CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME BY COMPONENT GAINS ON SALES OF INVESTMENTS [Abstract] Other current assets Other Assets, Current Other comprehensive income (loss), tax Other comprehensive income, tax Other assets Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $0: Other income tax expense (benefit) Other Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations GAINS ON SALES OF INVESTMENTS Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Interest and other income (expense), net Other liabilities Less: other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Other Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Noncontrolling Interest Purchases of property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Portion at Fair Value Measurement [Member] Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding Other Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Proceeds from sales of investments Proceeds from sale of equity method investment Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments Proceeds from share-based arrangements Net income Net income Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT [Abstract] Property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] Property, plant and equipment, gross Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Outstanding commitments for capital expenditure Range [Axis] Range [Domain] Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax Repayments of convertible debt Repayments of long-term borrowings Repayments of Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Research and development Research and development expenses Research and Development Expense Restricted Stock [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Retained earnings Credit Facility [Member] Aggregate intrinsic value, Exercisable at end of period Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value Contractual term Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period 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 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 Expected term Net sales Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income by component Information on outstanding and exercisable option awards Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block] Weighted-average inputs and risk-free rate of return ranges used to calculate the grant date fair value of options 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] Calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share Fair and carrying values of convertible senior notes Consolidated changes in equity Equipment under capital leases included in property, plant and equipment Schedule of Capital Leased Assets [Table Text Block] Long-term borrowings Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment [Table] Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Schedule of Stock by Class [Table] Schedule of Variable Interest Entities [Table] Geographical [Domain] Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense Award vesting period Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards (in dollar per share) Restricted Stock [Abstract] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] Share options granted (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract] Restricted stock awards granted (in shares) 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) Risk free rate of return Exercisable at end of period (in shares) Stock options, additional disclosures [Abstract] Weighted-average inputs and risk-free rate of return ranges used to calculate the grant date fair value of options [Abstract] Dividend yield Volatility Weighted average exercise price, Outstanding at end of period (in dollar per share) Outstanding at end of period (in shares) Equity Award [Domain] Aggregate intrinsic value, Outstanding at end of period Outstanding and exercisable option awards [Abstract] Weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollar per share) Share-based compensation accounting policy Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] Ending balance (in shares) Beginning balance (in shares) Shares, Outstanding Equity Components [Axis] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) [Abstract] Geographical [Axis] Restricted stock awards vesting and expense (in shares) Restricted stock awards vesting and expense Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans (in shares) Repurchase of common stock of subsidiary (in shares) Share-Based Payment Awards [Member] Stock Compensation Plan [Member] Sale of common stock through employee stock option and purchase plans Equity: Beginning balance Ending balance Total equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest CHANGES IN EQUITY Total Photronics, Inc. shareholders' equity Ending Balance Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Supplemental disclosure of noncash information: Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued Unrecognized tax benefits Valuation allowance change Variable interest entity, methodology for determining whether entity is primary beneficiary Variable Interest Entities [Axis] Maximum exposure to loss from investment in VIE Loss from variable interest entity Variable Interest Entity, Measure of Activity, Operating Income or Loss Variable Interest Entity [Line Items] 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] Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract] Incremental Weighted Average Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect [Abstract] Basic (in shares) Weighted-average common shares used for basic earnings per share (in shares) Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares) Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Korea [Member] Taiwan [Member] United States [Member] Amount of tax withheld on a foreign subsidiary's share redemption. Withholding Tax On Foreign Subsidiary Share Redemption Withholding tax on foreign subsidiary share redemption 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] EXPANSION INTO CHINA [Abstract] The entire disclosure for the Company's announced expansion into China. Expansion into Foreign Country [Text Block] EXPANSION INTO CHINA Refers to amount of investment, company has planned to invest in foreign country. Investment Amount Planned to Invest in Foreign Country Investment amount planned to invest in China Refers to term in which company will invest the planned amount of investment in the foreign country. Term of Planned Investment in Foreign Country Investment term Represents return of capital to noncontrolling interests. Return of capital to noncontrolling interests Return of capital to noncontrolling interests Describes the operating facilities of the reporting entity by geographical region. Manufacturing Facilities by Geographical Region [Table] 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] This line item represents the number of manufacturing facilities of the entity. Number of manufacturing facilities Number of manufacturing facilities Changes to accumulated comprehensive income resulting from other. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 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 other comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest resulting from other. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Other [Member] Other [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 2019 [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 on April 2016 [Member] 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 [Member] Refers to supply agreement term subject to mutually agreeable renewals. Supply Agreement Term Subject To Mutually Agreeable Renewals Initial term of supply agreement term subject to mutually agreeable renewals The joint venture variable interest entity. MP Mask [Member] MP Mask [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 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] Document and Entity Information [Abstract]