Consolidated Condensed Statements of 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 | ASU 2016-02 [Member]	$ 0	$ 23,013	$ 0	$ 23,013	$ 0	$ 23,013	$ 0	$ 0
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2018	1,436,011	(61,258)	(6,791)	1,382,384	2,286	1,384,670	13,212	1,210
Net earnings	0	75,459	0	75,459	182	75,641	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(8,532)	(8,532)	0	(8,532)	0	0
Conversion of Class B shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	3	0	0	3	0	3	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(2,681)	0	0	(2,659)	0	(2,659)	22	0
Dividends declared	15	(12,292)	0	(12,277)	0	(12,277)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	3,536	0	0	3,536	0	3,536	0	0
Repurchase of convertible senior debentures	(11,783)	0	0	(11,783)	0	(11,783)	0	0
Balance at Period End at Mar. 30, 2019	1,425,101	24,922	(15,323)	1,449,144	2,468	1,451,612	13,234	1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU | ASU 2016-13 [Member]	0	(1,070)	0	(1,070)	0	(1,070)	0	0
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2019	1,425,170	72,180	(26,646)	1,485,149	2,540	1,487,689	13,235	1,210
Net earnings	0	27,219	0	27,219	165	27,384	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(21,528)	(21,528)	0	(21,528)	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	174	0	0	174	0	174	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(2,011)	0	0	(1,991)	0	(1,991)	20	0
Dividends declared	18	(13,759)	0	(13,741)	0	(13,741)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	2,998	0	0	2,998	0	2,998	0	0
Repurchase of convertible senior debentures	(10,089)	0	0	(10,089)	0	(10,089)	0	0
Balance at Period End at Apr. 04, 2020	$ 1,416,260	$ 84,570	$ (48,174)	$ 1,467,121	$ 2,705	$ 1,469,826	$ 13,255	$ 1,210