Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jul. 01, 2017	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Numerator for basic earnings per share:
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 62,366	$ (177,657)	$ 64,404	$ 56,190	$ 36,719	$ (20,344)	$ 48,792
Denominator for basic earnings per share:
Weighted average shares	144,160				146,120
Outstanding phantom stock units	167				154
Adjusted weighted average shares (basic)	144,327				146,274
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments	14,610				8,349
Restricted stock units	565				253
Dilutive potential common shares	15,175				8,602
Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
Adjusted weighted average shares (diluted)	159,502				154,876
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43				$ 0.25
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.39				$ 0.24
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [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)	$ 12.91
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)	0				8,340
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)	$ 17.69
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)	$ 10.98
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)	307				581