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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Nov. 02, 2014 Subsidiary Facility | Nov. 03, 2013 | Oct. 28, 2012
Manufacturing Facilities by Geographical Region [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of manufacturing facilities | 9 plab_NumberOfManufacturingFacilities |  |
Foreign Currency [Abstract] |  |  |
Foreign currency transaction gain | $ 1.4 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainBeforeTax | $ 0.5 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainBeforeTax | $ 0.2 us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainBeforeTax
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] |  |  |
Number of majority owned subsidiaries | 2 plab_NumberOfMajorityOwnedSubsidiaries |  |
Period of warranty | 30 days |  |
PK Ltd [Member] |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] |  |  |
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling interests (in hundredths) | 0.30%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners / dei_LegalEntityAxis = plab_PkLtdMember | 0.30%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners / dei_LegalEntityAxis = plab_PkLtdMember |
PDMC [Member] |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] |  |  |
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling interests (in hundredths) | 49.99%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners / dei_LegalEntityAxis = plab_PhotronicsDnpMaskCorporationPdmcMember | 1.37%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners / dei_LegalEntityAxis = plab_PhotronicsDnpMaskCorporationPdmcMember |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 3 years |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 15 years |  |
Buildings and Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 15 years |  |
Buildings and Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 40 years |  |
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 3 years |  |
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 10 years |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Office Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 3 years |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Office Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] |  |  |
Estimated useful lives | 5 years |  |
Europe [Member] |  |  |
Manufacturing Facilities by Geographical Region [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of manufacturing facilities | 2 plab_NumberOfManufacturingFacilities / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = us-gaap_EuropeMember |  |
Taiwan [Member] |  |  |
Manufacturing Facilities by Geographical Region [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of manufacturing facilities | 3 plab_NumberOfManufacturingFacilities / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_TW |  |
Korea [Member] |  |  |
Manufacturing Facilities by Geographical Region [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of manufacturing facilities | 1 plab_NumberOfManufacturingFacilities / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_KR |  |
United States [Member] |  |  |
Manufacturing Facilities by Geographical Region [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of manufacturing facilities | 3 plab_NumberOfManufacturingFacilities / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_US |  |

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- Definition Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain recognized in the income statement. + References 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 + Details
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