Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	$ 33,678	$ 31,698
Available for sale securities	7,095	6,776
Fair Value Assets	40,773	38,474
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	(1,280)	(986)
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	653,300	533,900
Carrying value of long-term debt, excluding derivative liabilities	387,760	398,068
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	21,750	20,569
Available for sale securities	7,095	6,776
Fair Value Assets	28,845	27,345
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	11,928	11,129
Available for sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Assets	11,928	11,129
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	0	0
Available for sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Assets	0	0
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	(1,280)	(986)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(608)	(594)
Convertible senior debentures	Nov. 09, 2010
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2040 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(608)	(594)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(407)	(392)
Convertible senior debentures	May 11, 2011
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2041 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(407)	(392)
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	(265)
Convertible senior debentures	May 31, 2012
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	$ (265)

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

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- Definition

Date the debt instrument was issued, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives classified as a liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624163-113959

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 12-16, 44A, 44B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44A

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44A, 44B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Fair value of the net of financial assets at the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vsh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The total fair value of liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vsh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

The carrying value of long-term debt, excluding the derivative liability.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vsh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of assets held in rabbi trusts to fund payments under deferred compensation and non-qualified pension plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vsh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant