Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2020	Sep. 28, 2019	Oct. 03, 2020	Sep. 28, 2019
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 33,484	$ 30,038	$ 85,356	$ 149,974
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,658	144,446	144,636	144,421
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	196	182	195	181
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	144,854	144,628	144,831	144,602
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)	5	6	35	89
Restricted stock units (in shares)	338	393	355	423
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	343	399	390	512
Denominator for diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,197	145,027	145,221	145,114
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.21	$ 0.59	$ 1.04
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ 0.21	$ 0.59	$ 1.03
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)	16,009	19,066	17,806	19,058
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)	$ 31.38		$ 31.38
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)	$ 12.28		$ 12.28
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)	156	1,204	133	401
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)	$ 16.83		$ 16.83
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	346	315