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INCOME TAXES, Part 2 (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Nov. 02, 2014 | Nov. 03, 2013 | Oct. 28, 2012
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 4,757,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 3,793,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 1,824,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Additions for tax positions in prior years | 3,437,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 1,224,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 1,932,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Additions based on current year tax positions | 272,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 207,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 616,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Settlements | (3,155,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities | (406,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities | (518,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Lapses of statutes of limitations | (318,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations | (61,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations | (61,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Balance at end of year | 4,993,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 4,757,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 3,793,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Valuation allowance increase (decrease) | (7,100,000)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount | 1,100,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount | 2,500,000 us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
Income taxes, additional disclosures [Abstract] |  |  |
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries included in consolidated retained earnings | 142,500,000 plab_UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiariesIncludedInConsolidatedRetainedEarnings |  |
Earnings of foreign subsidiaries included in consolidated retained earnings which are considered not to be permanently reinvested | 15,300,000 plab_EarningsOfForeignSubsidiariesIncludedInConsolidatedRetainedEarningsWhichAreConsideredNotToBePermanentlyReinvested |  |
Remaining undistributed earnings considered to be indefinitely invested | 127,200,000 us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries |  |
Dollar effect of income tax holiday | 0 us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount | 0 us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount | 0 us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount
Per share effect of income tax holiday (dollars per share) | $ 0 us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare | $ 0 us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare | $ 0 us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare
Income taxes paid | 5,200,000 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid | 10,700,000 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid | 14,300,000 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid
Cash received for refunds of income taxes | 1,400,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds | 300,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds | 100,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefunds
DPTT Acquisition [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforwards | 58,600,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = plab_DnpPhotomaskTechnologyTaiwanCoLtdDpttMember |  |
PDMC [Member] |  |  |
Income taxes, additional disclosures [Abstract] |  |  |
One-time remittance in conjunction with acquisition | 35,000,000 us-gaap_ForeignEarningsRepatriated / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = plab_PhotronicsDnpMaskCorporationPdmcMember |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforwards | 123,600,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2023 |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2034 |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Tax credit carryfoward amount | 4,000,000 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = us-gaap_ResearchMember |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Tax credit carryfoward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2019 |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Tax credit carryfoward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2034 |  |
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Alternate Minimum Tax Credit Carryforward [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Tax credit carryfoward amount | 3,100,000 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember / us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis = plab_AlternateMinimumTaxCreditCarryforwardMember |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforwards | 73,100,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember |  |
Operating loss carryforward not subject to expiration | 1,000,000 plab_OperatingLossCarryforwardNotSubjectToExpiration / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember |  |
Tax credit carryfoward amount | 800,000 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2015 |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2034 |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | DPTT Acquisition [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforwards | 34,600,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis = plab_DnpPhotomaskTechnologyTaiwanCoLtdDpttMember / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember |  |
Tax credit carryfoward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2019 |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | PDMC [Member] |  |  |
Income taxes, additional disclosures [Abstract] |  |  |
Income tax holiday commencement date | Jan. 01, 2015 |  |
Income tax holiday termination date | October 31, 2019 |  |
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | PKLT [Member] |  |  |
Income taxes, additional disclosures [Abstract] |  |  |
Income tax holiday commencement date | Jan. 01, 2012 |  |
Income tax holiday termination date | October 31, 2017 |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforwards | 209,500,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember |  |
Tax credit carryfoward amount | $ 5,600,000 us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2015 |  |
Tax credit carryfoward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2015 |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforward [Abstract] |  |  |
Operating loss carryforward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2034 |  |
Tax credit carryfoward expiration date | Oct. 31, 2034 |  |

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