Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Common Stock [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 2042 [Member]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [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 2042 [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [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 2042 [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]	Total	Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]
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)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests															0
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)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests															0
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	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
Net earnings	0		0		0		117,629		0		117,629		214		117,843
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0		0		0		(130,774)		(130,774)		0		(130,774)
Noncontrolling interest in business acquired	0		0		0		0		0		0		21,895		21,895
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0		0		0		(547)		(547)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	0		0		424		0		0		424		(21,491)		(21,067)
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	12		0		(384)		0		0		(372)		0		(372)
Dividends declared	0		0		28		(35,416)		0		(35,388)		0		(35,388)
Stock compensation expense	0		0		2,392		0		0		2,392		0		2,392
Stock options exercised	0		0		50		0		0		50		0		50
Tax effects of stock plan	0		0		(1,351)		0		0		(1,351)		0		(1,351)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 13,532		$ 1,213		$ 2,055,246		$ (175,485)		$ (69,140)		$ 1,825,366		$ 5,511		$ 1,830,877