Consolidated Condensed Statements of 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]
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
Conversion of Class B shares	0		0		0		0		0		0		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			(13,759)		0		(13,741)		0		(13,741)		0		0
Dividends declared (APIC)	18
Stock compensation expense	2,998		0		0		2,998		0		2,998		0		0
Repurchase of convertible debt instruments	(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
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ 0
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU											138,990	20,566
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2020	1,409,200		138,990		13,559		1,576,215		2,800		1,579,015		13,256		1,210
Net earnings	0		71,435		0		71,435		208		71,643		0		0
Other comprehensive income	0		0		(25,085)		(25,085)		0		(25,085)		0		0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(1,978)		0		0		(1,963)		0		(1,963)		15		0
Dividends declared			(13,777)		0		(13,757)		0		(13,757)		0		0
Dividends declared (APIC)	20
Stock compensation expense	4,120		0		0		4,120		0		4,120		0		0
Balance at Period End at Apr. 03, 2021	$ 1,345,284		$ 217,214		$ (11,526)		$ 1,565,453		$ 3,008		1,568,461		$ 13,271		$ 1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU		$ (66,078)		$ 20,566		$ 0		$ (45,512)		$ 0	$ 217,214	$ (45,512)		$ 0		$ 0