Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 29, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Obligation	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Minimum ownership of entities that do not have a non-controlling interest (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Number of performance obligations | Obligation									2
Research and Development Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development expense									$ 69,827	$ 72,885	$ 67,153
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments [Abstract]
Minimum number of months until maturity from original purchase date for a highly liquid investment to be considered a short-term investment (in months)									3 months
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract]
Bad debt expense									$ (592)	2,570	301
Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated cost to complete construction in progress	$ 92,000								92,000
Depreciation expense									155,985	150,056	148,883
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	0				$ 0				0	0
Self-Insurance Programs [Abstract]
Outstanding claim accrual	0				0				0	0
Cash and investments restricted for potential insurance claims	10,259				11,046				10,259	11,046
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Right of use assets	93,162				0				93,162	0
Lease liabilities	98,728								98,728
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment									577	55,561	1,685
Net revenues	609,577	$ 628,329	$ 685,240	$ 745,159	775,892	$ 780,972	$ 761,030	$ 716,795	2,668,305	3,034,689	2,599,368
Costs of products sold									1,997,105	2,146,165	1,896,259
Gross profit	135,361	150,079	174,601	211,159	219,690	236,296	227,238	205,300	671,200	888,524	703,109
Operating Income	24,178	51,028	79,489	107,735	119,667	138,098	123,293	104,062	262,430	485,120	324,005
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)	14,149	30,265	44,735	75,641	102,659	78,071	103,262	62,545	164,790	346,537	(19,560)
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	187	227	258	182	240	195	165	179	854	779	784
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 13,962	$ 30,038	$ 44,477	$ 75,459	102,419	$ 77,876	$ 103,097	$ 62,366	$ 163,936	345,758	$ (20,344)
Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Payment terms of sales									60 days
Collection period of receivables									12 months
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2019-12-31 | Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Expected timing of satisfaction of performance obligation	24 months								24 months
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Right of use assets	$ 5,473								$ 5,473
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Useful Life									7 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Useful Life									10 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Right of use assets	87,689								$ 87,689
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Useful Life									20 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment [Abstract]
Useful Life									40 years
Patents and Acquired Technology [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									7 years
Patents and Acquired Technology [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									25 years
Capitalized Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									3 years
Capitalized Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									10 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									5 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									20 years
Non-competition Agreements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									3 years
Non-competition Agreements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life									10 years
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Right of use assets					91,462					91,462
Lease liabilities					95,784					95,784
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Right of use assets					5,404					5,404
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Right of use assets					86,058					86,058
Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
New accounting pronouncement future impact on retained earnings	$ 1,070								$ 1,070
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]
Right of use assets					91,462					91,462
Lease liabilities					95,784					95,784
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment					45,500
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU					$ 23,013					$ 23,013