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, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares	Dec. 13, 2002 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 370,470	$ 357,023
Credit facility			150,000	143,000
Deferred Financing Costs			(9,101)	(10,880)
Less current portion			0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion			370,470	357,023
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures			575,000	575,000
Unamortized discount			(345,967)	(350,951)
Embedded derivative			538	854
Carrying value of liability component			229,571	224,903
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			4,984	4,610	4,264
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			189	189	189
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(316)	(462)	211
Total interest expense related to the debentures			17,795	17,275	17,602
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases			0	(34,044)	0
Committed and uncommitted short-term credit lines			15,000	11,000
Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
2018			0
2019			0
2020			150,000
2021			0
2022			0
Thereafter			575,000
Interest paid			21,216	19,316	19,134
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			$ 486,211	490,136
Letters of credit outstanding			3,789	6,864
Credit facility accelerated repayment minimum judgement			25,000
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, Due 2102 [Member]
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures						$ 38,642	$ 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			$ 110,412	108,120
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			77.2085
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 12.95
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares			$ 16.84
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			(164,794)	(167,273)
Embedded derivative			206	393
Carrying value of liability component			110,412	108,120
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			2,479	2,292	2,120
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			88	88	88
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(187)	(183)	50
Total interest expense related to the debentures			$ 8,568	8,385	8,446
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent			$ 56,641	55,442
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			56.3427
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 17.75
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares			$ 23.08
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			(93,573)	(94,843)
Embedded derivative			214	285
Carrying value of liability component			56,641	55,442
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			1,270	1,171	1,078
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			47	47	47
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(71)	(153)	97
Total interest expense related to the debentures			$ 4,621	4,440	4,597
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent			$ 62,518	61,341
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			90.7787
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 11.02
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares			$ 14.33
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			(87,600)	(88,835)
Embedded derivative			118	176
Carrying value of liability component			62,518	61,341
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			1,235	1,147	1,066
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			54	54	54
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			(58)	(126)	64
Total interest expense related to the debentures			$ 4,606	$ 4,450	$ 4,559
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)			130.00%