Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2018
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Vishay and all of its subsidiaries in which a controlling financial interest is maintained. For those consolidated subsidiaries in which the Company's ownership is less than 100 percent, the outside stockholders' interests are shown as noncontrolling interest in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Investments in affiliates over which the Company has significant influence but not a controlling interest are carried on the equity basis. Investments in affiliates over which the Company does not have significant influence are accounted for by the cost method. All intercompany transactions, accounts, and profits are eliminated.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). See Note 2.
Research and Development Expenses	Research and Development Expenses Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amount charged to expense for research and development (exclusive of purchased in-process research and development) aggregated $72,885, $67,153, and $66,842, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. The Company spends additional amounts for the development of machinery and equipment for new processes and for cost reduction measures.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances have been established for deferred tax assets which the Company believes do not meet GAAP criteria of "more likely than not" to be realized. This criterion requires a level of judgment regarding future taxable income, which may be revised due to changes in market conditions, tax laws, or other factors. If the Company's assumptions and estimates change in the future, valuation allowances established may be increased, resulting in increased tax expense. Conversely, if the Company is ultimately able to utilize all or a portion of the deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance has been established, then the related portion of the valuation allowance can be released, resulting in decreased tax expense. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Company's tax positions and determining its provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Company establishes reserves for tax-related uncertainties based on estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. These reserves are established when the Company believes that certain positions might be challenged despite the Company's belief that its tax return positions are fully supportable. The Company adjusts these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances and the provision for income taxes includes the impact of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate. These accruals for tax-related uncertainties are based on management's best estimate of potential tax exposures. When particular matters arise, a number of years may elapse before such matters are audited by tax authorities and finally resolved. Favorable resolution of such matters could be recognized as a reduction to the Company's effective tax rate in the year of resolution. Unfavorable resolution of any particular issue could increase the effective tax rate and may require the use of cash in the year of resolution. The amount included in current liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets reflect only amounts expected to be settled in cash within one year. See Note 5.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments Cash and cash equivalents includes demand deposits and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased. Highly liquid investments with original maturities greater than three months, but less than one year are classified as short-term investments. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company's short-term investments were comprised of time deposits with financial institutions whose original maturity exceeds three months, but less than one year.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The allowance is determined through an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable and assessments of risk that are based on historical trends and an evaluation of the impact of current and projected economic conditions. The Company evaluates the past-due status of its trade receivables based on contractual terms of sale. If the financial condition of the Company's customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Bad debt expense was $2,570, $301, and $61 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
Inventories	Inventories Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. Inventories are adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment Property and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated principally by the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are being depreciated over useful lives of seven to ten years. Buildings and building improvements are being depreciated over useful lives of twenty to forty years. Construction in progress is not depreciated until the assets are placed in service. The estimated cost to complete construction in progress at December 31, 2018 was approximately $127,000. Depreciation of capital lease assets is included in total depreciation expense. Depreciation expense was $150,056, $148,883, and $144,521 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Gains and losses on the disposal of assets which do not qualify for presentation as discontinued operations are included in the determination of operating margin (within selling, general, and administrative expenses). Individually material gains and losses on disposal are separately disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of a business acquired over the fair value of the related net assets at the date of acquisition. Certain of the Company's tradenames were assigned indefinite useful lives. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but rather are tested for impairment at least annually. These tests are performed more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. The Company's business segments (see Note 15) represent its reporting units for goodwill impairment testing purposes. See Note 20 for further information on the impairment test performed in 2016. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, the Company has no recorded indefinite-lived intangible assets. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Patents and acquired technology are being amortized over useful lives of seven to twenty-five years. Capitalized software is amortized over periods of three to ten years, primarily included in costs of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations. Customer relationships are amortized over useful lives of five to twenty years. Noncompete agreements are amortized over periods of three to ten years. The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets. GAAP prescribes a quantitative method for determining goodwill impairment. The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment before performing the quantitative impairment test. If it is determined, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is not more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is not required. If it is determined that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is required. The Company determines the fair value of the reporting unit and compares that fair value to the net book value of the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting unit is determined using various valuation techniques, including a comparable companies market multiple approach and a discounted cash flow analysis (an income approach). If the net book value of the reporting unit were to exceed the fair value, the Company would recognize an impairment charge.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The carrying value of long-lived assets held-and-used, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, is evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset group. Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group. Losses on long-lived assets held-for-sale, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for anticipated disposal costs.
Available-for-Sale Securities	Available-for-Sale Securities Short-term investments and other assets reported on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets include time deposits with financial institutions whose original maturity exceeds three months, but less than one year and investments in marketable securities which are classified as available-for-sale. These assets include assets that are held in trust related to the Company's non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans (see Note 11) and assets that are intended to fund a portion of the Company's other postretirement benefit obligations outside of the U.S. These assets are reported at fair value, based on quoted market prices as of the end of the reporting period. Beginning in 2018, unrealized gains and losses are reported, net of their related tax consequences, as Other Income (Expense) on the consolidated statements of operations. See "Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance" below. At the time of sale, the assets that are held in trust related to the Company's non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans, any gains (losses) calculated by the specific identification method are recognized as a reduction (increase) to benefits expense, within selling, general, and administrative expenses.
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments The Company uses financial instruments in the normal course of its business, including from time to time, derivative financial instruments. Additionally, from time to time, the Company enters into contracts that are not considered derivative financial instruments in their entirety, but that include embedded derivative features. The convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 contain embedded derivatives that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, outstanding derivative instruments were not material. The Company reports derivative instruments on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at their fair values. The accounting for changes in fair value depends upon the purpose of the derivative instrument and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting. For instruments designated as hedges, the effective portion of gains or losses is reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion, if any, is reported in current period net earnings (loss). Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges, including embedded derivatives, are recorded in current period net earnings (loss). The Company has in the past used interest rate swap agreements to modify variable rate obligations to fixed rate obligations, thereby reducing exposure to market rate fluctuations. The Company uses financial instruments such as forward exchange contracts to mitigate a portion, but not all, of the risk associated with its firm commitments denominated in foreign currencies. The purpose of the Company's foreign currency management is to minimize the effect of exchange rate changes on actual cash flows from foreign currency denominated transactions. Other financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, held-to-maturity short-term investments, accounts receivable, and notes payable. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments reported on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
Foreign Currency Translation	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) Foreign Currency Translation The Company has significant operations outside of the United States. The Company finances its operations in Europe and certain locations in Asia in local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. The Company's operations in Israel and most significant locations in Asia are largely financed in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments do not impact the consolidated results of operations and are reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. While the translation of revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars does not directly impact the statement of operations, the translation effectively increases or decreases the U.S. dollar equivalent of revenues generated and expenses incurred in those foreign currencies. For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated results of operations.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation Compensation costs related to stock-based payment transactions are recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity (or liability) instruments issued. Compensation cost is recognized over the period that an officer, employee, or non-employee director is required to provide service in exchange for the award. For awards subject to graded vesting, the Company recognizes expense over the service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards. The Company recognizes compensation cost for restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are expected to vest and records cumulative adjustments in the period that the expectation changes.
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Liabilities for loss contingencies, including environmental remediation costs, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. The costs for a specific environmental remediation site are discounted if the aggregate amount of the obligation and the amount and timing of the cash payments for that site are fixed or reliably determinable based upon information derived from the remediation plan for that site. Accrued liabilities for environmental matters recorded at December 31, 2018 and 2017 do not include claims against third parties.
Restructuring and Severance Costs	Restructuring and Severance Costs Restructuring and severance costs reflect charges resulting from cost reduction programs implemented by the Company. Restructuring and severance costs include exit costs, severance benefits pursuant to an on-going arrangement, voluntary termination compensation under a defined program, and any related pension curtailment and settlement charges. The Company recognizes expense for one-time benefits only after management has committed to a plan, the plan is sufficiently detailed to provide the number, classification, and location of employees to be terminated as well as the expected completion date, the plan has been sufficiently communicated to employees such that they are able to determine the type and amount of benefits they will receive if terminated, and it is unlikely that the plan will be significantly changed or withdrawn. If an employee is not required to render service beyond a minimum retention period, the Company recognizes expense once the aforementioned criteria have been met. If an employee is required to render service beyond a minimum retention period, the Company recognizes expense over the period that the employee is required to render future service. The Company recognizes expense for on-going benefit arrangements when the liability is reasonably estimable and considered probable. The Company recognizes expense for voluntary separation / early retirement when the employee delivers an irrevocable voluntary termination notice pursuant to a defined company program. The Company recognizes other exit costs as incurred.
Self-Insurance Programs	Self-Insurance Programs The Company uses a combination of insurance and self-insurance mechanisms to provide for the potential liabilities for workers' compensation, general liability, property damage, director and officers' liability, and vehicle liability. As part of its self-insurance program for certain risks, the Company created a wholly-owned captive insurance entity in 2007. At December 31, 2018, the captive insurance entity provides only property and general liability insurance, although it is licensed to also provide casualty and directors' and officers' insurance. The captive insurance entity had no amounts accrued for outstanding claims at December 31, 2018 and $560 accrued for outstanding claims at December 31, 2017. Certain investments held by the captive insurance entity are restricted primarily for the purpose of potential insurance claims. Such amounts are recorded in other noncurrent assets and total $11,046 and $9,438 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, representing required statutory reserves of the captive insurance entity.
Convertible Debentures	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) Convertible Debt Instruments The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash in a manner that reflects the Company's nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The liability component at issuance is recognized at fair value, based on the fair value of a similar instrument that does not have a conversion feature. A discount is recorded if debt instruments are issued at a coupon rate which is below the rate of a similar instrument that did not have a conversion feature at issuance. The equity component is based on the excess of the principal amount of the debt instruments over the fair value of the liability component, after adjusting for an allocation of debt issuance costs and the deferred tax impact, and is recorded as capital in excess of par. Debt discounts are amortized as additional non-cash interest expense over the expected life of the debt.
Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted	Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The ASU is the result of a convergence project between the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The ASU removes inconsistencies and weaknesses in revenue requirements; provides a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues; improves comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets; provides more useful information to users of financial statements through expanded disclosure requirements; and simplifies the preparation of financial statements by reducing the number of requirements to which an entity must refer. The Company retrospectively adopted the ASU on January 1, 2018. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. See Note 2 and "Changes in Accounting Policies" below. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The ASU enhances the reporting model for financial instruments by addressing certain aspects, including requiring equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; simplifying the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values; eliminating the requirement to disclose the method and significant assumptions used to estimate the disclosed fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost; and requiring the use of the exit price notion for fair value measurements of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. The Company adopted the ASU on January 1, 2018. The Company recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment to January 1, 2018 retained earnings (accumulated deficit) of $1,801 for the cumulative change in fair value of available-for-sale equity investments previously recognized in other comprehensive income. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The ASU amends the income statement presentation requirements of net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The Company retrospectively adopted the ASU on January 1, 2018. The adoption of the ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. See "Changes in Accounting Policies" below. Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) Changes in Accounting Policies Except for the changes described in "Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted" above and in this section below, the Company has consistently applied the accounting policies described in its Note 1 to its audited consolidated financial statements included in its annual report on Form 10-K. Revenue Recognition The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018 using the full retrospective method. As a result, the Company has changed its accounting policy for revenue recognition. The details of significant changes and quantitative impact of the changes are disclosed below. Service-type warranty performance obligations ASU 2014-09 introduces the concept of service-type warranties, which represent separate performance obligations. Upon adoption of ASU 2014-09, the Company considers its warranty obligations as service-type warranties and allocates a portion of the estimated consideration to be received from the related contract to the service-type warranty performance obligation and recognizes the related revenue over the warranty period. The impact of accounting for service-type warranties as separate performance obligations was not significant in the retrospective adoption period and is included in the tables below. See further discussion of the warranty obligations in Note 2. Custom products The Company previously recognized revenue when the sales process was completed, which generally occurred when the product was delivered and risk of loss was transferred to the customer. Upon adoption of ASU 2014-09, the Company analyzes its contractual arrangements to determine whether the promise in the contract to construct and transfer goods to the customer is a performance obligation that will be satisfied over time or at a point in time. When the Company's performance does not create an asset with an alternative use to the Company and the Company has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date, the Company transfers control of a good or service over time and, therefore, satisfies a performance obligation and recognizes revenue over time. The Company has a limited number of contracts for custom products that meet the criteria to recognize revenue over time. The dollar amount of these custom products did not materially change during the retrospective adoption period. The Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $2,210 to January 1, 2016 retained earnings (accumulated deficit) and recorded adjustments to its consolidated balance sheets due to the impact of recognizing revenue for certain custom products over time rather than at a point in time. ASU 2014-09 provides several transition practical expedients. The Company has not restated completed contracts that begin and end in the same annual reporting period; used the transaction price at the date the contract was completed rather than estimating variable consideration amounts in the comparative reporting periods; has not disclosed the amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations and an explanation of when the Company expects to recognize the amount as revenue for the reporting periods presented prior to January 1, 2016; and has not retrospectively restated the contract for modifications made prior to January 1, 2016 and instead reflected the aggregate effect of all modifications when identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, determining the transaction price and allocating the transaction price pursuant to the transition practical expedients available. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits The Company retrospectively adopted ASU No. 2017-07 as of January 1, 2018. As a result, the Company has changed its accounting policy for pension and other postretirement benefits costs as detailed below. ASU 2017-07 amends the income statement presentation requirements of net periodic benefit cost of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The service cost component of net periodic pension cost is recorded in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period, and other components of net periodic pension cost are included on a separate line within other income (expense). The Company reclassified net benefit costs other than the current service component previously reported as cost of goods sold and selling, general, and administrative expenses to other expenses for each quarter in the retrospective adoption period in the table below. The Company also reclassified the $79,321 U.S. pension settlement charges recorded for the year ended December 31, 2016 to other expenses. See the impact of this change in the tables below.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The ASU is the result of a project between the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Upon adoption of the ASU, the Company will recognize lease assets and liabilities for its operating leases which are not currently reported on its consolidated balance sheets. The ASU is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The Company will adopt the ASU effective January 1, 2019 and provide comparative disclosures for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 using the existing guidance in ASC Topic 840, Leases. Based on work performed to date, the Company expects to recognize right of use assets and lease liabilities between $90,000 and $100,000 as of January 1, 2019. The Company continues to evaluate the effect of the ASU on the sale-leaseback transaction of its former manufacturing facility in Santa Clara, California. The adoption of the ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The ASU replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The ASU is effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020, with the ability to early adopt for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. The Company plans to adopt the ASU effective January 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the ASU on its financial assets measured at amortized cost.