Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2021	Apr. 04, 2020
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 71,435	$ 27,219
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,760	144,599
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	208	193
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	144,968	144,792
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)	9	95
Restricted stock units (in shares)	486	408
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	495	503
Denominator for diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,463	145,295
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.19
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.19
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)	0	19,088
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)	0	88
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)	317	325