Segment and Geographic Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments									5
Segment Reporting Information, Description of Products and Services									The Company evaluates business segment performance on operating income, exclusive of certain items ("segment operating income"). Only dedicated, direct selling, general, and administrative expenses of the segments are included in the calculation of segment operating income. The Company's calculation of segment operating income excludes such selling, general, and administrative costs as global operations, sales and marketing, information systems, finance and administration groups, as well as restructuring and severance costs, executive compensation charges (credits), material gains or losses on sales of property, and other items. Management believes that evaluating segment performance excluding such items is meaningful because it provides insight with respect to intrinsic operating results of the Company. These items represent reconciling items between segment operating income and consolidated operating income. Business segment assets are the owned or allocated assets used by each business.
Product sales									$ 2,364,617	$ 2,222,966	$ 2,587,396
Royalty revenues									6,362	7,131	6,633
Total revenue	616,170	602,890	597,665	554,254	530,570	572,781	588,199	538,547	2,370,979	2,230,097	2,594,029
Gross Margin	144,449	143,220	142,857	136,734	108,791	133,554	147,619	136,709	567,260	526,673	719,986
Depreciation expense									155,064	153,801	165,022
Interest expense (income)									23,130	22,604	19,277
Capital expenditures									153,077	150,291	168,641
Total Assets	3,237,139				3,016,277				3,237,139	3,016,277	2,993,730
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Restructuring and severance costs									(2,814)	0	0
Gain on Sale of Property	0	0	0	0	0	0	12,153	0	0	12,153	0
Executive Compensation Credit (Charges)	0	0	(1,778)	0	0	0	0	0	1,778	0	(5,762)
Operating Income									197,682	189,201	346,601
MOSFETS Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									449,299	433,436	537,783
Royalty revenues									178	246	197
Total revenue									449,477	433,682	537,980
Gross Margin									59,387	56,694	125,498
Depreciation expense									50,606	49,124	53,808
Interest expense (income)									0	0	12
Capital expenditures									41,869	49,201	61,520
Total Assets	543,037				625,597				543,037	625,597	646,660
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									19,140	17,198	85,336
Diodes Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									547,264	496,744	607,493
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									547,264	496,744	607,493
Gross Margin									121,231	99,116	143,876
Depreciation expense									37,305	36,335	39,577
Interest expense (income)									54	64	0
Capital expenditures									44,431	30,025	39,444
Total Assets	788,121				670,811				788,121	670,811	682,017
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									96,581	75,733	118,111
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									228,194	209,141	229,814
Royalty revenues									51	53	72
Total revenue									228,245	209,194	229,886
Gross Margin									76,732	67,943	74,772
Depreciation expense									12,484	11,917	12,384
Interest expense (income)									122	140	0
Capital expenditures									18,310	16,759	15,442
Total Assets	213,128				199,385				213,128	199,385	163,486
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									62,259	54,632	60,492
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									700,115	635,488	634,490
Royalty revenues									6,133	6,832	6,364
Total revenue									706,248	642,320	640,854
Gross Margin									221,851	204,137	213,997
Depreciation expense									31,998	31,921	32,039
Interest expense (income)									79	543	223
Capital expenditures									32,515	35,878	28,751
Total Assets	843,685				760,257				843,685	760,257	609,556
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									186,583	172,129	185,327
Capacitors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									439,745	448,157	577,816
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									439,745	448,157	577,816
Gross Margin									88,059	98,783	161,843
Depreciation expense									21,596	23,354	25,979
Interest expense (income)									28	52	223
Capital expenditures									13,052	15,531	19,676
Total Assets	636,637				587,586				636,637	587,586	672,049
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									64,494	76,858	136,901
Corporate Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									0	0	0
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									0	0	0
Gross Margin									0	0	0
Depreciation expense									1,075	1,150	1,235
Interest expense (income)									22,847	21,805	18,819
Capital expenditures									2,900	2,897	3,808
Total Assets	212,531				172,641				212,531	172,641	219,962
Unallocated Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									$ (230,339)	$ (219,502)	$ (233,804)