Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 560,654	$ 638,211	$ 1,744,560	$ 1,882,518
Costs of products sold	430,510	479,819	1,327,896	1,414,750
Gross profit	130,144	158,392	416,664	467,768
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	88,995	93,837	276,717	287,300
Restructuring and severance costs	2,324	3,508	9,394	18,926
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets	62,980	0	62,980	0
U.S. pension settlement charges	0	15,588	0	15,588
Operating income	(24,155)	45,459	67,573	145,954
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(6,677)	(6,167)	(19,774)	(17,968)
Other	3,240	(474)	7,860	1,046
Loss related to Tianjin explosion	(5,350)	0	(5,350)	0
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(8,787)	(6,641)	(17,264)	(16,922)
Income before taxes	(32,942)	38,818	50,309	129,032
Income tax expense	(5,392)	11,841	20,416	40,259
Net earnings	(27,550)	26,977	29,893	88,773
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	116	6	592	350
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ (27,666)	$ 26,971	$ 29,301	$ 88,423
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ (0.19)	$ 0.18	$ 0.20	$ 0.60
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ (0.19)	$ 0.17	$ 0.19	$ 0.57
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	147,701	147,569	147,700	147,565
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	147,701	155,546	151,607	154,142
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.18	$ 0.18