Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income before income taxes	$ 71,812	$ 123,642	$ 300,302	$ 291,260
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	50,487	89,799	207,869	211,878
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.47	$ 1.22	$ 1.10
Product Sales	635,821	692,937	2,037,895	2,032,257
Royalty Revenues	1,828	1,428	4,743	4,223
Total Revenue	637,649	694,365	2,042,638	2,036,480
Gross Margin	167,477	218,378	594,330	595,984
Operating Income (Loss)	75,333	130,903	313,036	297,355
Vishay Precision Group Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income before income taxes				9,716
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders				5,811
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)				$ 0.03
Product Sales	0	0	0	101,089
Royalty Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total Revenue	0	0	0	101,089
Gross Margin	0	0	0	37,030
Operating Income	0	0	0	18,949
MOSFETS Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product Sales	131,832	181,820	427,913	462,651
Royalty Revenues	34	145	196	193
Total Revenue	131,866	181,965	428,109	462,844
Gross Margin	27,260	62,795	109,510	136,700
Operating Income	17,314	53,839	79,246	109,993
Diodes Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product Sales	150,993	157,193	480,023	448,465
Royalty Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total Revenue	150,993	157,193	480,023	448,465
Gross Margin	35,783	40,017	118,622	103,528
Operating Income	29,220	34,363	99,228	86,319
Optoelectronic Components Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product Sales	56,089	56,836	177,556	172,889
Royalty Revenues	30	0	72	60
Total Revenue	56,119	56,836	177,628	172,949
Gross Margin	17,350	19,282	59,259	59,226
Operating Income	13,869	16,516	48,556	50,631
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product Sales	155,273	157,172	494,622	456,570
Royalty Revenues	1,764	1,283	4,475	3,970
Total Revenue	157,037	158,455	499,097	460,540
Gross Margin	51,650	55,907	171,764	162,713
Operating Income	44,917	48,604	150,778	142,341
Capacitors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product Sales	141,634	139,916	457,781	390,593
Royalty Revenues	0	0	0	0
Total Revenue	141,634	139,916	457,781	390,593
Gross Margin	35,434	40,377	135,175	96,787
Operating Income	29,415	35,438	116,332	80,311
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	(57,529)	(57,857)	(175,342)	(191,189)
Executive Compensation Charge [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income	$ (1,873)	$ 0	$ (5,762)	$ 0