Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 28, 2013		Jun. 29, 2013		Mar. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 29, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator for basic earnings (loss) per share:
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 30,021		$ 32,719		$ 31,309		$ 28,931		$ 20,975		$ 22,280		$ 45,671		$ 33,812		$ 122,980	$ 122,738	$ 238,821
Adjustment to the numerator for continuing operations and net earnings (loss):
Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive convertible and exchangeable notes, net of tax																	140	293	189
Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Net earnings (loss)																	$ 123,120	$ 123,031	$ 239,010
Denominator for basic earnings (loss) per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)																	144,856	149,020	160,094
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)																	6,130	6,176	7,820
Restricted stock units (in shares)																	320	549	212
Other (in shares)																	111	99	388
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)																	6,561	6,824	8,420
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Adjusted weighted average shares (in shares)																	151,417	155,844	168,514
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.23	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.15	[1]	$ 0.16	[1]	$ 0.30	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.85	$ 0.82	$ 1.49
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.19	[1]	$ 0.14	[1]	$ 0.15	[1]	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.81	$ 0.79	$ 1.42
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	19,809	19,809	9,905
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)	$ 13.88																$ 13.88
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	7,885	7,885	5,026
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)	$ 19.02																$ 19.02
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	0	7,434	0
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)	$ 11.81																$ 11.81
Weighted average stock options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	91	177	182
Weighted average warrants [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	0	8,390	8,824
Weighted average other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	385	282	123

[1] May not add due to differences in weighted average share counts.