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 | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]	$ 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	0	165,463	0	165,463	344	165,807	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(31,331)	(31,331)	0	(31,331)	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	(525)	(525)	0	0
Conversion of Class B shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	(3)
Temporary equity reclassification	1,779	0	0	1,779	0	1,779	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(2,318)	0	0	(2,297)	0	(2,297)	21	0
Dividends declared	25	(22,018)	0	(21,993)	0	(21,993)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	3,261	0	0	3,261	0	3,261	0	0
Issuance of convertible notes due 2025	85,262	0	0	85,262	0	85,262	0	0
Repurchase of convertible senior debentures	(246,573)	0	0	(246,573)	0	(246,573)	0	0
Balance at Period End at Jun. 30, 2018	1,593,942	(217,008)	(7,418)	1,383,938	1,851	1,385,789	13,212	1,210
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						243,878
Other comprehensive income						(25,384)
Balance at Period End at Sep. 29, 2018	1,595,092	(151,404)	(1,471)	1,456,639	2,046	1,458,685	13,212	1,210
Balance at Period Start at Jun. 30, 2018	1,593,942	(217,008)	(7,418)	1,383,938	1,851	1,385,789	13,212	1,210
Net earnings	0	77,876	0	77,876	195	78,071	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	5,947	5,947	0	5,947	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	358	0	0	358	0	358	0	0
Dividends declared	14	(12,272)	0	(12,258)	0	(12,258)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	778	0	0	778	0	778	0	0
Balance at Period End at Sep. 29, 2018	1,595,092	(151,404)	(1,471)	1,456,639	2,046	1,458,685	13,212	1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]	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	0	119,936	0	119,936	440	120,376	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	475	475	0	475	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	(600)	(600)	0	0
Conversion of Class B shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	209	0	0	209	0	209	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(2,731)	0	0	(2,708)	0	(2,708)	23	0
Dividends declared	32	(26,032)	0	(26,000)	0	(26,000)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	4,426	0	0	4,426	0	4,426	0	0
Repurchase of convertible senior debentures	(11,783)	0	0	(11,783)	0	(11,783)	0	0
Balance at Period End at Jun. 29, 2019	1,426,164	55,659	(6,316)	1,489,952	2,126	1,492,078	13,235	1,210
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						150,641
Other comprehensive income						(21,161)
Balance at Period End at Sep. 28, 2019	1,427,049	71,956	(27,952)	1,485,498	2,353	1,487,851	13,235	1,210
Balance at Period Start at Jun. 29, 2019	1,426,164	55,659	(6,316)	1,489,952	2,126	1,492,078	13,235	1,210
Net earnings	0	30,038	0	30,038	227	30,265	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(21,636)	(21,636)	0	(21,636)	0	0
Dividends declared	18	(13,741)	0	(13,723)	0	(13,723)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	867	0	0	867	0	867	0	0
Balance at Period End at Sep. 28, 2019	$ 1,427,049	$ 71,956	$ (27,952)	$ 1,485,498	$ 2,353	$ 1,487,851	$ 13,235	$ 1,210