Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 44,477	$ 103,097	$ 119,936	$ 165,463
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,441	144,215	144,409	144,188
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	180	167	180	167
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	144,621	144,382	144,589	144,355
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)	24	12,810	131	13,710
Restricted stock units (in shares)	378	465	438	515
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	402	13,275	569	14,225
Denominator for diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,023	157,657	145,158	158,580
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.71	$ 0.83	$ 1.15
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.65	$ 0.83	$ 1.04
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)	19,055	3,769	19,053	1,885
Minimum market price of common stock for inclusion of shares issuable upon conversion of senior debentures for calculation of diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 31.47		$ 31.47
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Minimum market price of common stock for inclusion of shares issuable upon conversion of senior debentures for calculation of diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 17.31		$ 17.31
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)	315	307	315	307
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Minimum market price of common stock for inclusion of shares issuable upon conversion of senior debentures for calculation of diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 12.63		$ 12.63