Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jul. 01, 2017		Apr. 01, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Oct. 01, 2016		Jul. 02, 2016		Apr. 02, 2016		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Numerator for basic earnings (loss) per share:
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ (177,657)		$ 64,404		$ 56,190		$ 36,719		$ (48,748)		$ 36,440		$ 33,086		$ 28,014		$ (20,344)	$ 48,792	$ (108,514)
Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive convertible and exchangeable notes, net of tax																	0	38	0
Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Net earnings (loss) attributed to Vishay stockholders - diluted																	$ (20,344)	$ 48,830	$ (108,514)
Denominator for basic earnings (loss) per share:
Weighted average shares																	145,478	147,009	147,570
Incremental outstanding phantom stock units																	155	143	130
Adjusted weighted average shares outstanding - basic																	145,633	147,152	147,700
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)																	0	3,219	0
Restricted stock units (in shares)																	0	323	0
Other (in shares)																	0	3	0
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)																	0	3,545	0
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted																	145,633	150,697	147,700
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ (1.23)	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]	$ 0.38	[1]	$ 0.25	[1]	$ (0.33)	[1]	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.19	[1]	$ (0.14)	$ 0.33	$ (0.73)
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	(1.23)	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.24	[1]	$ (0.33)	[1]	$ 0.24	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.19	[1]	$ (0.14)	$ 0.32	$ (0.73)
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)																	21,184	10,312	20,477
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)	12.95																$ 12.95
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)																	8,432	8,249	8,151
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)	17.75																$ 17.75
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	13,586	0	13,133
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)	$ 11.02																$ 11.02
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, Due 2102 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	0	0	2,512
Weighted average 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)																	26	91	105
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)																	981	512	1,014

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