Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]
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
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,752,506		$ (362,254)		$ 25,714		$ 1,430,367		$ 2,032		$ 1,432,399		$ 13,188		$ 1,213
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 debt instruments	(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 debt instruments	(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
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU											72,180
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ 0
Net earnings	0		122,923		0		122,923		860		123,783		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0		40,205		40,205		0		40,205		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	4		0		0		4		0		4		0		0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(2,037)		0		0		(2,016)		0		(2,016)		21		0
Dividends declared	74		(55,043)		0		(54,969)		0		(54,969)		0		0
Stock compensation expense	5,276		0		0		5,276		0		5,276		0		0
Repurchase of convertible debt instruments	(19,287)		0		0		(19,287)		0		(19,287)		0		0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,409,200		$ 138,990		$ 13,559		$ 1,576,215		$ 2,800		1,579,015		$ 13,256		$ 1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU											$ 138,990