Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 17,220			$ 1,435			$ 2,315,851			$ (865,617)			$ 75,969			$ 1,544,858			$ 5,038			$ 1,549,896
Net earnings (loss)	0			0			0			(57,188)			0			(57,188)			673			(56,515)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0			0			0			0			27,006			27,006			0			27,006
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0			0			0			0			(556)			(556)
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	8			0			(8)			0			0			0			0			0
Stock compensation expense	0			0			1,770			0			0			1,770			0			1,770
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	17,228			1,435			2,317,613			(922,805)			102,975			1,516,446			5,155			1,521,601
Net earnings (loss)	0			0			0			359,106			0			359,106			1,187			360,293
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0			0			0			0			(56,487)			(56,487)			0			(56,487)
Spin-off of Vishay Precision Group, Inc.	0			0			0			(178,538)			14,003			(164,535)			(166)			(164,701)
Share repurchase	(2,172)			0			(272,828)			0			0			(275,000)			0			(275,000)
Issuance of convertible debentures		0			0			110,094			0			0			110,094			0		110,094
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0			0			0			0			(757)			(757)
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	12			0			(12)			0			0			0			0			0
Cancellation of shares	(7)			0			7			0			0			0			0			0
Stock compensation expense	0			0			2,643			0			0			2,643			0			2,643
Tax effects of stock plan	0			0			(536)			0			0			(536)			0			(536)
Conversions from Class B to common stock	0			0			0			0			0			0			0			0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	15,061			1,435			2,156,981			(742,237)			60,491			1,491,731			5,419			1,497,150
Net earnings (loss)	0			0			0			238,821			0			238,821			1,176			239,997
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0			0			0			0			(56,713)			(56,713)			0			(56,713)
Share repurchase	(862)			0			(149,138)			0			0			(150,000)			0			(150,000)
Issuance of convertible debentures			0			0			62,246			0			0			62,246			0	62,246
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0			0			0			0			(1,440)			(1,440)
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	20			0			(161)			0			0			(141)			0			(141)
Stock options exercised	65			0			9,610			0			0			9,675			0			9,675
Stock compensation expense	0			0			6,832			0			0			6,832			0			6,832
Tax effects of stock plan	0			0			555			0			0			555			0			555
Conversions from Class B to common stock	90			(90)			0			0			0			0			0			0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 14,374			$ 1,345			$ 2,086,925			$ (503,416)			$ 3,778			$ 1,603,006			$ 5,155			$ 1,608,161