Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Held-to-maturity Securities, Transferred Security, at Carrying Value	$ 0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Unrecognized Holding Gain	0
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Held-to-maturity Securities	0
Assets held in rabbi trusts	35,889	33,751
Available for sale securities	7,212	7,580
Fair Value Assets	43,101	41,331
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(937)	(1,303)
Fair Value Liabilities	(937)	(1,303)
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	739,900	686,800
Carrying value of long-term debt, excluding derivative liabilities	358,937	391,628
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	23,370	21,954
Available for sale securities	7,212	7,580
Fair Value Assets	30,582	29,534
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	12,519	11,797
Available for sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Assets	12,519	11,797
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	0	0
Available for sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Assets	0	0
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	(937)	(1,303)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(429)	(622)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(429)	(622)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(299)	(399)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(299)	(399)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(209)	(282)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	$ (209)	$ (282)

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (aa)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562

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- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives classified as a liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624163-113959

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- Definition

For any transfer of securities categorized as held-to-maturity, this item represents the net carrying amount of the transferred security to another category of investments in debt and equity securities (trading or available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27405-111563

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- Definition

Amount of unrecognized gain before loss on investments in held-to-maturity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The amount by which the fair value of an investment in debt securities categorized as Held-to-maturity is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

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- Definition

Fair value of the net of financial assets at the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The total fair value of liabilities.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The carrying value of long-term debt, excluding the derivative liability.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vsh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of assets held in rabbi trusts to fund payments under deferred compensation and non-qualified pension plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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