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
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
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											52,279
Other comprehensive income											320
Balance at Period End at Jul. 04, 2020	1,412,775		95,462		(26,326)		1,496,377		2,347		1,498,724		13,256		1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ (1,070)		$ 0		$ 0
Balance at Period Start at Apr. 04, 2020	1,416,260		84,570		(48,174)		1,467,121		2,705		1,469,826		13,255		1,210
Net earnings	0		24,653		0		24,653		242		24,895		0		0
Other comprehensive income	0		0		21,848		21,848		0		21,848		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0		(600)		(600)		0		0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(26)		0		0		(25)		0		(25)		1		0
Dividends declared			(13,761)		0		(13,743)		0		(13,743)		0		0
Dividends declared (APIC)	18
Stock compensation expense	875		0		0		875		0		875		0		0
Repurchase of convertible debt instruments	(4,352)		0		0		(4,352)		0		(4,352)		0		0
Balance at Period End at Jul. 04, 2020	1,412,775		95,462		(26,326)		1,496,377		2,347		1,498,724		13,256		1,210
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
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											165,024
Other comprehensive income											(13,780)
Balance at Period End at Jul. 03, 2021	1,346,132		296,629		(221)		1,657,021		2,397		1,659,418		13,271		1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU		$ (66,078)		$ 20,566		$ 0		$ (45,512)		$ 0		$ (45,512)		$ 0		$ 0
Balance at Period Start at Apr. 03, 2021	1,345,284		217,214		(11,526)		1,565,453		3,008		1,568,461		13,271		1,210
Net earnings	0		93,192		0		93,192		189		93,381		0		0
Other comprehensive income	0		0		11,305		11,305		0		11,305		0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0		(800)		(800)		0		0
Dividends declared			(13,777)		0		(13,757)		0		(13,757)		0		0
Dividends declared (APIC)	20
Stock compensation expense	828		0		0		828		0		828		0		0
Balance at Period End at Jul. 03, 2021	$ 1,346,132		$ 296,629		$ (221)		$ 1,657,021		$ 2,397		1,659,418		$ 13,271		$ 1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU											$ 296,629