Consolidated Statement of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,752,506	$ (362,254)	$ 25,714	$ 1,430,367	$ 2,032	$ 1,432,399	$ 13,188	$ 1,213
Net earnings (loss)	0	62,366	0	62,366	179	62,545	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	28,631	28,631	0	28,631	0	0
Conversion of Class B shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	(3)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	1,080	0	0	1,080	0	1,080	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(2,318)	0	0	(2,297)	0	(2,297)	21	0
Dividends declared	11	(9,746)	0	(9,735)	0	(9,735)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	2,483	0	0	2,483	0	2,483	0	0
Balance at Period End at Mar. 31, 2018	1,753,762	(307,833)	52,544	1,512,895	2,211	1,515,106	13,212	1,210
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2017	1,752,506	(362,254)	25,714	1,430,367	2,032	1,432,399	13,188	1,213
Net earnings (loss)						165,807
Other comprehensive income						(31,331)
Balance at Period End at Jun. 30, 2018	1,593,942	(217,008)	(7,418)	1,383,938	1,851	1,385,789	13,212	1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU	0	1,801	(1,801)	0	0	0	0	0
Balance at Period Start at Mar. 31, 2018	1,753,762	(307,833)	52,544	1,512,895	2,211	1,515,106	13,212	1,210
Net earnings (loss)	0	103,097	0	103,097	165	103,262	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(59,962)	(59,962)	0	(59,962)	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	(525)	(525)	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	699	0	0	699	0	699	0	0
Dividends declared	14	(12,272)	0	(12,258)	0	(12,258)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	778	0	0	778	0	778	0	0
Issuance of convertible debentures	85,262	0	0	85,262	0	85,262	0	0
Repurchase of convertible senior debentures	(246,573)	0	0	(246,573)	0	(246,573)	0	0
Balance at Period End at Jun. 30, 2018	1,593,942	(217,008)	(7,418)	1,383,938	1,851	1,385,789	13,212	1,210
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2018	1,436,011	(61,258)	(6,791)	1,382,384	2,286	1,384,670	13,212	1,210
Net earnings (loss)	0	75,459	0	75,459	182	75,641	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	(8,532)	(8,532)	0	(8,532)	0	0
Conversion of Class B shares	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	3	0	0	3	0	3	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(2,681)	0	0	(2,659)	0	(2,659)	22	0
Dividends declared	15	(12,292)	0	(12,277)	0	(12,277)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	3,536	0	0	3,536	0	3,536	0	0
Repurchase of convertible senior debentures	(11,783)	0	0	(11,783)	0	(11,783)	0	0
Balance at Period End at Mar. 30, 2019	1,425,101	24,922	(15,323)	1,449,144	2,468	1,451,612	13,234	1,210
Balance at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2018	1,436,011	(61,258)	(6,791)	1,382,384	2,286	1,384,670	13,212	1,210
Net earnings (loss)						120,376
Other comprehensive income						475
Balance at Period End at Jun. 29, 2019	1,426,164	55,659	(6,316)	1,489,952	2,126	1,492,078	13,235	1,210
Cumulative effect of accounting change for adoption of ASU	0	23,013	0	23,013	0	23,013	0	0
Balance at Period Start at Mar. 30, 2019	1,425,101	24,922	(15,323)	1,449,144	2,468	1,451,612	13,234	1,210
Net earnings (loss)	0	44,477	0	44,477	258	44,735	0	0
Other comprehensive income	0	0	9,007	9,007	0	9,007	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0	(600)	(600)	0	0
Temporary equity reclassification	206	0	0	206	0	206	0	0
Issuance of stock and related tax withholdings for vested restricted stock units	(50)	0	0	(49)	0	(49)	1	0
Dividends declared	17	(13,740)	0	(13,723)	0	(13,723)	0	0
Stock compensation expense	890	0	0	890	0	890	0	0
Balance at Period End at Jun. 29, 2019	$ 1,426,164	$ 55,659	$ (6,316)	$ 1,489,952	$ 2,126	$ 1,492,078	$ 13,235	$ 1,210