Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2019	Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 28, 2019	Sep. 29, 2018
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 30,038	$ 77,876	$ 149,974	$ 243,339
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,446	144,215	144,421	144,197
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	182	168	181	167
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	144,628	144,383	144,602	144,364
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)	6	8,062	89	11,827
Restricted stock units (in shares)	393	501	423	511
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	399	8,563	512	12,338
Denominator for diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,027	152,946	145,114	156,702
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.54	$ 1.04	$ 1.69
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.51	$ 1.03	$ 1.55
Convertible Senior Notes, Due 2025 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	19,066	19,052	19,058	7,607
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)	$ 31.45		$ 31.45
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	1,204	0	401	0
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)	$ 17.21		$ 17.21
Weighted Average Other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	315	307	315	307
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
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)	$ 12.56		$ 12.56