Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' 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 2016-09 [Member]	$ 0	$ 386	$ 0	$ 386	$ 0	$ 386	$ 0	$ 0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	1,952,988	(305,207)	(94,652)	1,567,727	5,441	1,573,168	13,385	1,213
Net earnings	0	(20,344)	0	(20,344)	784	(19,560)	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	120,366	120,366	0	120,366	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	(1,140)	(1,140)	0	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(1,047)	0	0	(1,047)	(3,053)	(4,100)	0	0
Common stock repurchase	(39,719)	0	0	(39,944)	0	(39,944)	(225)	0
Temporary equity reclassification	(163,411)	0	0	(163,411)	0	(163,411)	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(1,991)	0	0	(1,971)	0	(1,971)	20	0
Dividends declared	40	(37,089)	0	(37,049)	0	(37,049)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	4,394	0	0	4,394	0	4,394	0	0
Stock options exercised	1,252	0	0	1,260	0	1,260	8	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	1,752,506	(362,254)	25,714	1,430,367	2,032	1,432,399	13,188	1,213
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
Net earnings	0	345,758	0	345,758	779	346,537	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	(30,704)	(30,704)	0	(30,704)	0	0
Conversion of Class B shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	(3)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	(525)	(525)	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	2,330	0	0	2,330	0	2,330	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	54	(46,563)	0	(46,509)	0	(46,509)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	4,817	0	0	4,817	0	4,817	0	0
Issuance of convertible notes due 2025	85,262	0	0	85,262	0	85,262	0	0
Repurchase of convertible debentures	(406,640)	0	0	(406,640)	0	(406,640)	0	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,436,011	(61,258)	(6,791)	1,382,384	2,286	1,384,670	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
Net earnings	0	163,936	0	163,936	854	164,790	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	(19,855)	(19,855)	0	(19,855)	0	0
Conversion of Class B shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	(600)	(600)	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	35	0	0	35	0	35	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	67	(53,511)	0	(53,444)	0	(53,444)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	6,108	0	0	6,108	0	6,108	0	0
Repurchase of convertible debentures	(14,320)	0	0	(14,320)	0	(14,320)	0	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,425,170	$ 72,180	$ (26,646)	$ 1,485,149	$ 2,540	$ 1,487,689	$ 13,235	$ 1,210