Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Common Stock [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 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 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 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 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 2041 [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]	Total	Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]	Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]
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)
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)
Issuance of convertible debentures		0			0			62,246			0			0			62,246			0			62,246
Share repurchase	(862)			0			(149,138)			0			0			(150,000)			0			(150,000)
Stock compensation expense	0			0			6,832			0			0			6,832			0			6,832
Stock options exercised	65			0			9,610			0			0			9,675			0			9,675
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)
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)
Issuance of convertible debentures			0			0			57,874			0			0			57,874			0			57,874
Share repurchase	(1,395)			0			(148,605)			0			0			(150,000)			0			(150,000)
Stock compensation expense	0			0			3,544			0			0			3,544			0			3,544
Stock options exercised	2			0			172			0			0			174			0			174
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
Net earnings	0			0			0			122,980			0			122,980			789			123,769
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0			0			0			0			71,856			71,856			0			71,856
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0			0			0			0			(257)			(257)
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	40			0			(2,680)			0			0			(2,640)			0			(2,640)
Stock compensation expense	0			0			636			0			0			636			0			636
Tax effects of stock plan	0			0			196			0			0			196			0			196
Issuance of common stock for exchangeable unsecured notes (3,664,729 shares)	366			0			56,034			0			0			56,400			0			56,400
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 13,520			$ 1,213			$ 2,054,087			$ (257,698)			$ 61,634			$ 1,872,756			$ 5,440			$ 1,878,196