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]	Common Stock [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [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]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [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]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [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]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [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]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [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]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]	Total	Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]	Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]
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	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	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
Net earnings	0				0				0				122,738				0				122,738				793				123,531
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0				0				0				0				(14,000)				(14,000)				0				(14,000)
Share repurchase	(1,395)				0				(148,605)				0				0				(150,000)				0				(150,000)
Issuance of convertible debentures				0				0				57,874				0				0				57,874				0				57,874
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0				0				0				0				0				0				(1,040)				(1,040)
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	1				0				(9)				0				0				(8)				0				(8)
Stock options exercised	2				0				172				0				0				174				0				174
Stock compensation expense	0				0				3,544				0				0				3,544				0				3,544
Conversions from Class B to common stock	132				(132)				0				0				0				0				0				0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 13,114				$ 1,213				$ 1,999,901				$ (380,678)				$ (10,222)				$ 1,623,328				$ 4,908				$ 1,628,236