Stockholders' Equity (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Sep. 28, 2019 $ / shares	Jun. 29, 2019 $ / shares	Mar. 30, 2019 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Sep. 29, 2018 $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2018 $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) Vote shares $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2018 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 $ / shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Cash dividends per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares										$ 0.3700	$ 0.3225	$ 0.2550
Shares reserved (in shares)		41,248,720								41,248,720
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Restricted payments (annual limit) | $		$ 100,000								$ 100,000
Restricted payments (total limit) | $		300,000								300,000
Restricted payments (rollover limit) | $		$ 25,000								$ 25,000
Restricted payments pro forma ratio										2.50
Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights per share | Vote										10
Conversion feature										one-for-one
Shares reserved (in shares)		12,097,409								12,097,409
Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights per share | Vote										1
Restricted stock units outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		842,000								842,000
Available to grant 2007 Stock Incentive Program - [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		2,580,000								2,580,000
Phantom stock units outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		183,000								183,000
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	26,988								26,988
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										24,001
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	1,108,803								1,108,803
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										986,058
Convertible Senior Notes, Due 2025 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	24,410,520								24,410,520
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										19,084,980
Dividend Paid [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Cash dividends per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.0950	$ 0.0950	$ 0.0950	$ 0.0850	$ 0.0850	$ 0.0850	$ 0.0850	$ 0.0675
Record date		Dec. 12, 2019	Sep. 12, 2019	Jun. 13, 2019	Mar. 14, 2019	Dec. 06, 2018	Sep. 14, 2018	Jun. 13, 2018	Mar. 14, 2018
Payment date		Dec. 23, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 20, 2018	Sep. 27, 2018	Jun. 28, 2018	Mar. 29, 2018

[1] At December 31, 2019, the convertible senior debentures due 2040 and due 2041 are convertible into 24,001 and 986,058 shares, respectively, of Vishay common stock.  The convertible senior notes due 2025 are convertible into 19,084,980 shares of Vishay common stock.  The Company has reserved adequate shares to ensure it could issue the maximum amount of shares to be delivered upon a make-whole fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the convertible debt instruments.