Segment and Geographic Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014 Segment	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments									5
Segment Operating Income Description									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									$ 2,488,757	$ 2,364,617	$ 2,222,966
Royalty revenues									4,525	6,362	7,131
Total revenue	610,764	638,211	641,929	602,378	616,170	602,890	597,665	554,254	2,493,282	2,370,979	2,230,097
Gross Margin	143,524	158,392	164,093	145,283	144,449	143,220	142,857	136,761	611,292	567,260	526,673
Depreciation expense									160,804	155,064	153,801
Interest expense (income)									24,457	23,130	22,604
Capital expenditures									156,974	153,077	150,291
Total Assets	3,298,773				3,237,139				3,298,773	3,237,139	3,016,277
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Restructuring and severance costs									(20,897)	(2,814)	0
U.S. pension settlement charges	0	(15,588)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(15,588)	0	0
Gain on Sale of Property									0	0	12,153
Executive Compensation Credit (Charges)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(1,778)	0	0	1,778	0
Operating Income									189,111	197,682	189,201
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Restructuring and severance costs									(20,897)	(2,814)	0
U.S. pension settlement charges									(15,588)	0	0
Gain on Sale of Property									0	0	12,153
Executive Compensation Credit (Charges)									0	1,778	0
MOSFETS Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									470,377	449,299	433,436
Royalty revenues									160	178	246
Total revenue									470,537	449,477	433,682
Gross Margin									59,614	59,387	56,694
Depreciation expense									53,939	50,606	49,124
Interest expense (income)									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									33,672	41,869	49,201
Total Assets	499,550				543,037				499,550	543,037	625,597
MOSFETS Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									21,095	19,140	17,198
Diodes Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									579,288	547,264	496,744
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									579,288	547,264	496,744
Gross Margin									132,021	121,231	99,116
Depreciation expense									39,592	37,305	36,335
Interest expense (income)									21	54	64
Capital expenditures									41,713	44,431	30,025
Total Assets	732,502				788,121				732,502	788,121	670,811
Diodes Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									106,068	96,581	75,733
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									258,248	228,194	209,141
Royalty revenues									0	51	53
Total revenue									258,248	228,245	209,194
Gross Margin									91,165	76,732	67,943
Depreciation expense									13,266	12,484	11,917
Interest expense (income)									41	122	140
Capital expenditures									23,008	18,310	16,759
Total Assets	422,257				213,128				422,257	213,128	199,385
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									73,463	62,259	54,632
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									755,251	700,115	635,488
Royalty revenues									4,365	6,133	6,832
Total revenue									759,616	706,248	642,320
Gross Margin									241,090	221,851	204,137
Depreciation expense									32,380	31,998	31,921
Interest expense (income)									119	79	543
Capital expenditures									42,950	32,515	35,878
Total Assets	812,664				843,685				812,664	843,685	760,257
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									203,343	186,583	172,129
Capacitors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									425,593	439,745	448,157
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									425,593	439,745	448,157
Gross Margin									87,402	88,059	98,783
Depreciation expense									20,524	21,596	23,354
Interest expense (income)									18	28	52
Capital expenditures									12,694	13,052	15,531
Total Assets	605,281				636,637				605,281	636,637	587,586
Capacitors Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									62,460	64,494	76,858
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									1,103	1,075	1,150
Interest expense (income)									24,258	22,847	21,805
Capital expenditures									2,937	2,900	2,897
Total Assets	226,519				212,531				226,519	212,531	172,641
Unallocated Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									$ (240,833)	$ (230,339)	$ (219,502)