Consolidated Statement of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU	$ 0	$ 1,801	$ (1,801)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2017	1,752,506	(362,254)	25,714	1,430,367	2,032	1,432,399	13,188	1,213
Net earnings (loss)	0	62,366	0	62,366	179	62,545	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	28,631	28,631	0	28,631	0	0
Conversions from Class B to common stock	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	(3)
Temporary equity reclassification	1,080	0	0	1,080	0	1,080	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings	(2,318)	0	0	(2,297)	0	(2,297)	21	0
Dividends declared	11	(9,746)	0	(9,735)	0	(9,735)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	2,483	0	0	2,483	0	2,483	0	0
Balance at Period End at Mar. 31, 2018	1,753,762	(307,833)	52,544	1,512,895	2,211	1,515,106	13,212	1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU	0	23,013	0	23,013	0	23,013	0	0
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2018	1,436,011	(61,258)	(6,791)	1,382,384	2,286	1,384,670	13,212	1,210
Net earnings (loss)	0	75,459	0	75,459	182	75,641	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(8,532)	(8,532)	0	(8,532)	0	0
Conversions from Class B to common stock	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	3	0	0	3	0	3	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings	(2,681)	0	0	(2,659)	0	(2,659)	22	0
Dividends declared	15	(12,292)	0	(12,277)	0	(12,277)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	3,536	0	0	3,536	0	3,536	0	0
Repurchase of convertible senior debentures	(11,783)	0	0	(11,783)	0	(11,783)	0	0
Balance at Period End at Mar. 30, 2019	$ 1,425,101	$ 24,922	$ (15,323)	$ 1,449,144	$ 2,468	$ 1,451,612	$ 13,234	$ 1,210