Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 04, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Statement of Operations data:
Net revenues	$ 551,391	$ 637,649	$ 709,838	$ 695,151	$ 688,612	$ 694,365	$ 701,655	$ 640,460	$ 2,594,029	$ 2,725,092	$ 2,042,033
Gross profit	125,656	167,477	212,190	214,663	211,501	218,378	210,593	167,013	719,986	807,485	388,161
Operating Income	33,565	75,333	115,505	122,198	120,583	130,903	101,327	65,125	346,601	417,938	(39,185)
Net earnings (loss)	31,202	50,692	82,496	75,607	147,537	90,152	76,965	45,639	239,997	360,293	(56,515)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	250	205	401	320	309	353	306	219	1,176	1,187	673
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Vishay stockholders	30,952	50,487	82,095	75,287	147,228	89,799	76,659	45,420	238,821	359,106	(57,188)
Per Share data:
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.32	$ 0.51	$ 0.46	$ 0.84	$ 0.48	$ 0.41	$ 0.24	$ 1.49	$ 1.96	$ (0.31)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.31	$ 0.48	$ 0.43	$ 0.81	$ 0.47	$ 0.40	$ 0.24	$ 1.42	$ 1.89	$ (0.31)
Operating income (loss):
Executive employment agreement charge	0			0	0	0	0	0	5,762	0	57,824
One time tax benefit (expense)	$ 6,538	$ 0	$ 0	$ (10,024)	$ 59,484	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 10,206	$ (27,635)	$ (6,911)
Quarter end date	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 03, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011
Number of weeks in an interim reporting period									13	13