Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 04, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 27,219	$ 75,459
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,599	144,375
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	193	179
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	144,792	144,554
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)	95	237
Restricted stock units (in shares)	408	498
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	503	735
Denominator for diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,295	145,289
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.52
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.52
Convertible Senior Notes, Due 2025 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	19,088	19,052
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)	$ 31.42
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
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)	$ 12.43
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	88	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)	$ 17.03
Weighted Average Other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	325	315