Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Operations data:
Net revenues	$ 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 profit	143,524		158,392		164,093		145,283		144,449		143,220		142,857		136,761		611,292	567,260	526,673
Operating Income	43,157		45,459		57,923		42,572		47,034		53,153		51,890		45,605		189,111	197,682	189,201
Net earnings	29,070		26,977		35,832		25,964		30,274		32,869		31,485		29,141		117,843	123,769	123,531
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(136)		6		190		154		253		150		176		210		214	789	793
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Vishay stockholders	29,206		26,971		35,642		25,810		30,021		32,719		31,309		28,931		117,629	122,980	122,738
Per Share data:
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders:	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.18	[1]	$ 0.24	[1]	$ 0.17	[1]	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.23	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.80	$ 0.85	$ 0.82
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders:	$ 0.19	[1]	$ 0.17	[1]	$ 0.23	[1]	$ 0.17	[1]	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.19	[1]	$ 0.77	$ 0.81	$ 0.79
Operating income (loss):
Restructuring and severance costs	1,971		3,508		9,014		6,404		(2,814)		0		0		0		(20,897)	(2,814)
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	0		0		0		0		0		0		1,778		0		0	(1,778)	0
Discrete Tax Items Included Income Tax Expense	$ (1,228)		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ (2,867)		$ 0		$ (1,330)		$ (1,228)	$ (4,197)	$ (4,036)
Quarter end date	Dec. 31, 2014	[2]	Sep. 27, 2014	[2]	Jun. 28, 2014	[2]	Mar. 29, 2014	[2]	Dec. 31, 2013	[2]	Sep. 28, 2013	[2]	Jun. 29, 2013	[2]	Mar. 30, 2013	[2]	Dec. 31, 2014
Number of weeks in an interim reporting period																	P91D

[1] May not add due to differences in weighted average share counts.

[2] The Company reports interim financial information for 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31.