Document and Entity Information (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 27, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		131,143,534
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Entity Registrant Name	VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000103730
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float	$ 1,234,000,000
Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,129,227