Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 28, 2019		Jun. 29, 2019		Mar. 30, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 29, 2018		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss) 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)
Denominator for basic earnings (loss) per share [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)																	144,427	144,202	145,478
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)																	181	168	155
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)																	144,608	144,370	145,633
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible debt instruments (in shares)																	100	9,707	0
Restricted stock units (in shares)																	428	545	0
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)																	528	10,252	0
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)																	145,136	154,622	145,633
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.31	[1]	$ 0.52	[1]	$ 0.71	[1]	$ 0.54	[1]	$ 0.71	[1]	$ 0.43	[1]	$ 1.13	$ 2.39	$ (0.14)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.10	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.31	[1]	$ 0.52	[1]	$ 0.69	[1]	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.65	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 1.13	$ 2.24	$ (0.14)
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)																	0	0	21,184
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)	12.50																$ 12.50
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)																	301	0	8,432
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)	17.13																$ 17.13
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)																	0	0	13,586
Convertible Senior Notes, Due 2025 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)																	19,063	10,468	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)	$ 31.44																$ 31.44
Weighted average stock options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)																	0	0	26
Weighted average other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)																	315	266	981

[1] May not add due to differences in weighted average share counts.