Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 2,668,305	$ 3,034,689	$ 2,599,368
Costs of products sold	1,997,105	2,146,165	1,896,259
Gross profit	671,200	888,524	703,109
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	384,631	403,404	367,831
Restructuring and severance costs	24,139	0	11,273
Operating income	262,430	485,120	324,005
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(33,683)	(36,680)	(27,850)
Other components of net periodic pension cost	(13,959)	(13,118)	(12,417)
Other	13,540	8,037	1,738
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(2,030)	(26,583)	0
Loss on disposal of equity affiliate	0	0	(6,112)
Total other income (expense)	(36,132)	(68,344)	(44,641)
Income before taxes	226,298	416,776	279,364
Income tax expense	61,508	70,239	298,924
Net earnings (loss)	164,790	346,537	(19,560)
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	854	779	784
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 163,936	$ 345,758	$ (20,344)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 2.39	$ (0.14)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 2.24	$ (0.14)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	144,608	144,370	145,633
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	145,136	154,622	145,633
Cash dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3700	$ 0.3225	$ 0.2550