Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Minimum ownership of entities that do not have a non-controlling interest (in hundredths)	100.00%
Royalty revenues	$ 7,131	$ 6,633	$ 5,781
Research and development expense	57,164	55,809	50,968
Grants recognized as reduction of cost of products sold	351	483	543
Deferred grant income	1,548	2,185
Number of years maintaining employment levels per grants conditions (in years)	10 years
Minimum number of months until maturity from original purchase date for a highly liquid investment to be considered a short-term investment (in months)	3 months
Bad debt expense	(24)	(93)	(838)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated cost to complete construction in progress	40,903
Depreciation expense	153,801	165,022	169,724
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cash and investments restricted for potential insurance claims	7,752	7,637
Outstanding claim accrual	0	0
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance	Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2011-4, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The ASU generally aligns the principles for fair value measurements and the related disclosure requirements under GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The updated guidance clarifies existing fair value measurement and disclosure requirements and requires additional disclosure requirements. The ASU is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning after January 1, 2012. Vishay adopted the ASU on January 1, 2012. The adoption of the ASU had no effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-8, Testing Goodwill for Impairment. Under the revised guidance, the Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the reporting unit when testing goodwill for impairment. If the Company determines, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step impairment test would be required. The ASU does not change how goodwill is calculated or assigned to reporting units, nor does it revise the requirement to test goodwill annually for impairment. In addition, the ASU does not amend the requirement to test goodwill for impairment between annual tests if events or circumstances warrant; however, it does revise the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider. The ASU is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests beginning after January 1, 2012. Vishay adopted the ASU on January 1, 2012. The adoption of the ASU had no effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. Under the revised guidance, when testing an indefinite-lived intangible asset for impairment the Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the asset. If the Company determines, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is not more likely than not impaired, the Company would not need to calculate the fair value of the asset. The ASU does not revise the requirement to test indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. In addition, the ASU does not amend the requirement to test these assets for impairment between annual tests if there is a change in events or circumstances; however, it does revise the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider in interim periods. Vishay early adopted the ASU for its annual period ending December 31, 2012. The adoption of the ASU had no effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
Goodwill impairment charge	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Minimum [Member] \| Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	7 years
Minimum [Member] \| Capitalized Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	3 years
Minimum [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	5 years
Minimum [Member] \| Non-competition Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	4 years
Maximum [Member] \| Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	25 years
Maximum [Member] \| Capitalized Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	10 years
Maximum [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	20 years
Maximum [Member] \| Non-competition Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	10 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	7 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	10 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	20 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	40 years