Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014	Jul. 04, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014
Numerator for basic earnings per share:
Net earnings	$ 26,268	$ 35,642	$ 56,967	$ 61,452
Adjustment to the numerator for continuing operations and net earnings:
Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive convertible and exchangeable notes, net of tax	17	15	33	30
Numerator for diluted earnings per share:
Net earnings	$ 26,285	$ 35,657	$ 57,000	$ 61,482
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
Weighted average shares	147,570	147,449	147,569	147,444
Outstanding phantom stock units	130	118	130	117
Adjusted weighted average shares (basic)	147,700	147,567	147,699	147,561
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments	3,788	6,513	4,283	5,647
Restricted stock units	212	234	198	222
Other	0	8	3	8
Dilutive potential common shares	4,000	6,755	4,484	5,877
Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
Adjusted weighted average shares (diluted)	151,700	154,322	152,183	153,438
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18	$ 0.24	$ 0.39	$ 0.42
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.23	$ 0.37	$ 0.40
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)	20,248	0	10,124	0
Minimum market price of common stock for inclusion of shares issuable upon conversion of senior debentures for calculation of diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 13.54		$ 13.54
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)	8,060	7,924	8,042	7,911
Minimum market price of common stock for inclusion of shares issuable upon conversion of senior debentures for calculation of diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 18.55		$ 18.55
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Minimum market price of common stock for inclusion of shares issuable upon conversion of senior debentures for calculation of diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 11.51		$ 11.51
Weighted average employees stock options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)	105	77	91	77
Weighted average other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)	842	693	731	702