Stockholders' Equity (Details)		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017 $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2017 $ / shares	Jul. 01, 2017 $ / shares	Apr. 01, 2017 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Oct. 01, 2016 $ / shares	Jul. 02, 2016 $ / shares	Apr. 02, 2016 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 shares $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Cash dividends per share | $ / shares										$ 0.255	$ 0.250	$ 0.240
Shares reserved (in shares)		65,836,840								65,836,840
Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights per share										10
Conversion feature										one-for-one
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	12,129,227								12,129,227
Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights per share										1
Restricted stock units outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		986,000								986,000
Available to grant 2007 Stock Incentive Program - [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		3,158,000								3,158,000
Phantom stock units outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		157,000								157,000
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		24,185,258								24,185,258
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										21,232,338
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	9,670,490								9,670,490
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										8,451,405
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	15,550,865								15,550,865
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										13,616,805
Dividend Paid [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Cash dividends per share | $ / shares		$ 0.0675	$ 0.0625	$ 0.0625	$ 0.0625	$ 0.0625	$ 0.0625	$ 0.0625	$ 0.0625
Record date		Dec. 07, 2017	Sep. 15, 2017	Jun. 15, 2017	Mar. 14, 2017	Dec. 08, 2016	Sep. 15, 2016	Jun. 15, 2016	Mar. 11, 2016
Payment date		Dec. 21, 2017	Sep. 28, 2017	Jun. 29, 2017	Mar. 29, 2017	Dec. 22, 2016	Sep. 29, 2016	Jun. 29, 2016	Mar. 29, 2016

[1] The convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 are convertible into 20,134,043, 8,014,230, and 12,912,435 shares, respectively, of Vishay common stock. The Company has reserved the maximum amount of shares to be delivered upon a make-whole fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the debentures.