Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 122,923	$ 163,936	$ 345,758
Denominator for basic earnings (loss) per share [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,641	144,427	144,202
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	195	181	168
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	144,836	144,608	144,370
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible debt instruments (in shares)	30	100	9,707
Restricted stock units (in shares)	362	428	545
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	392	528	10,252
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,228	145,136	154,622
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.85	$ 1.13	$ 2.39
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	0.85	$ 1.13	$ 2.24
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [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)	$ 12.22
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)	100	301	0
Convertible Senior Notes, Due 2025 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)	17,062	19,063	10,468
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)	$ 31.36
Weighted average other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities (in shares)	341	315	266