Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2021	Jul. 04, 2020	Jul. 03, 2021	Jul. 04, 2020
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 93,192	$ 24,653	$ 164,627	$ 51,872
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,808	144,651	144,784	144,624
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	209	195	208	194
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	145,017	144,846	144,992	144,818
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)	0	5	5	50
Restricted stock units (in shares)	428	319	456	364
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	428	324	461	414
Denominator for diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,445	145,170	145,453	145,232
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.17	$ 1.14	$ 0.36
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.17	$ 1.13	$ 0.36
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	18,321	0	18,704
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	155	0	122
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	387	317	356