Long-Term Debt (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares	Jul. 06, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 13, 2002 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 357,023	$ 436,738
Credit facility			143,000	190,000
Deferred Financing Costs			(10,880)	(12,659)
Less current portion			0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion			357,023	436,738
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures			575,000	575,000
Unamortized discount			(350,951)	(355,561)
Embedded derivative			854	1,316
Carrying value of liability component			224,903	220,755
Equity component - net carrying value			230,214	230,214
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest			12,938	12,938	$ 12,938
Non-cash amortization of debt discount			4,610	4,264	3,943
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			189	189	189
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(462)	211	68
Total interest expense related to the debentures			17,275	17,602	17,138
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases			(34,044)	0	(11)
Committed and uncommitted short-term credit lines			11,000	13,700
Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
2017			0
2018			0
2019			0
2020			143,000
2021			0
Thereafter			575,000
Interest paid			19,316	19,134	18,394
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 640,000
Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date			Dec. 10, 2015
Expiration date			Dec. 10, 2020
Maximum incremental revolving commitments			$ 50,000
Interest rate description			Borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin. The applicable interest margin is based on Vishay's leverage ratio. Based on Vishay's current leverage ratio, borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%. Vishay also pays a fee, also based on its leverage ratio, on undrawn amounts. The undrawn commitment fee, based on Vishay’s current leverage ratio, is 0.35% per annum. The previous credit agreement required Vishay to pay facility fees on the entire commitment amount.
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)			1.75%
Commitment fees (in hundredths)			0.35%
Covenant terms			The Amended and Restated Credit Facility allows an unlimited amount of defined “Restricted Payments,” which include cash dividends and share repurchases, provided the Company’s pro forma leverage ratio is less than 2.25 to 1. If the Company’s leverage ratio is greater than 2.25 to 1, the Amended and Restated Credit Facility allows such payments up to $75,000 per annum (subject to a cap of $225,000 for the term of the facility).
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance			The Credit Facility also contains customary events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to pay principal or interest, failure to pay or default under other material debt, material misrepresentation or breach of warranty, violation of certain covenants, a change of control, the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings, the insolvency of Vishay or certain of its significant subsidiaries, and the rendering of a judgment in excess of $25,000 against Vishay or certain of its significant subsidiaries. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Credit Facility, the Company's obligations under the credit facility may be accelerated and the lending commitments under the credit facility terminated.
Available borrowing capacity			$ 490,136	442,745
Letters of credit outstanding			6,864	7,255
Credit facility accelerated repayment minimum judgement			25,000
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, Due 2102 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchangeable unsecured notes, due 2102			$ 0	38,642
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares			$ 15.39
Principal amount of notes exchanged						$ 56,400
Common shares issued for conversion of exchangeable notes | shares						3,664,729
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures			$ 38,642				$ 95,042	$ 105,000
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Number of shares of common stock the Notes are exchangeable into (in shares) | shares			2,511,742
Principal amount of repurchased debt	$ 12,436	$ 26,206
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases	$ 11,449	$ 22,595
Repurchase Date	Jun. 28, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Number of shares of common stock the Notes are exchangeable into (in shares) | shares			2,511,742
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent			$ 108,120	106,011
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date			Nov. 09, 2010
Debt maturity date			Nov. 15, 2040
Cash coupon rate			2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance			8.00%
Effective conversion rate			76.1163
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 13.14
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares			$ 17.08
Convertible senior debentures call date			Nov. 20, 2020
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%
Debt instrument, Percentage of sale price of common stock (in hundredths)			98.00%
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures			$ 275,000	275,000
Unamortized discount			(167,273)	(169,565)
Embedded derivative			393	576
Carrying value of liability component			108,120	106,011
Equity component - net carrying value			110,094	110,094
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest			6,188	6,188	6,188
Non-cash amortization of debt discount			2,292	2,120	1,960
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			88	88	88
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(183)	50	35
Total interest expense related to the debentures			$ 8,385	8,446	8,271
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent			$ 55,442	54,424
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date			May 13, 2011
Debt maturity date			May 15, 2041
Cash coupon rate			2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance			8.375%
Effective conversion rate			55.5456
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 18.00
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares			$ 23.40
Convertible senior debentures call date			May 20, 2021
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%
Debt instrument, Percentage of sale price of common stock (in hundredths)			98.00%
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures			$ 150,000	150,000
Unamortized discount			(94,843)	(96,014)
Embedded derivative			285	438
Carrying value of liability component			55,442	54,424
Equity component - net carrying value			62,246	62,246
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest			3,375	3,375	3,375
Non-cash amortization of debt discount			1,171	1,078	993
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			47	47	47
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(153)	97	(8)
Total interest expense related to the debentures			$ 4,440	4,597	4,407
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent			$ 61,341	60,320
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date			May 31, 2012
Debt maturity date			Jun. 01, 2042
Cash coupon rate			2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance			7.50%
Effective conversion rate			89.4945
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 11.17
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares			$ 14.52
Convertible senior debentures call date			Jun. 07, 2022
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%
Debt instrument, Percentage of sale price of common stock (in hundredths)			98.00%
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures			$ 150,000	150,000
Unamortized discount			(88,835)	(89,982)
Embedded derivative			176	302
Carrying value of liability component			61,341	60,320
Equity component - net carrying value			57,874	57,874
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest			3,375	3,375	3,375
Non-cash amortization of debt discount			1,147	1,066	990
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			54	54	54
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(126)	64	41
Total interest expense related to the debentures			$ 4,450	$ 4,559	$ 4,460
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%