Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2002	Feb. 03, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Common stock options outstanding [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted stock units outstanding [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Available to grant 2007 Stock Incentive Program - [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Phantom stock units outstanding [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Phantom stock units available to grant [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, Due 2102 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]		Dec. 31, 2013 Conversion of Class B common stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends Payable					$ 0.06
Voting rights per share							10	1
Conversion feature							one-for-one
Common stock shares repurchased (in shares)	13,948,687	8,620,689	21,721,959
Aggregate cost of common stock repurchased	$ 150,000	$ 150,000	$ 275,000
Warrants issued				8,823,529
Permitted stock repurchase or cash dividend payment capacity under credit facility						$ 204,596
Shares reserved (in shares)						62,363,582			109,000	1,059,000	766,000	107,000	75,000	2,511,742	22,285,258	[1]	8,870,490	[1]	14,450,865	[1]	12,129,227
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)															19,809,103		7,884,885		12,704,055

[1] The convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 are convertible into 19,809,103, 7,884,885, and 12,704,055 shares, respectively, of Vishay common stock. The Company has reserved the maximum amount of shares to be delivered upon a make-whole fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the debentures.