Long-Term Debt (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares	Jul. 06, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 13, 2002 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 436,738	$ 444,055
Credit facility	190,000	200,000
Deferred Financing Costs	(12,659)	(10,867)
Less current portion	0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion	436,738	444,055
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures	575,000	575,000
Unamortized discount	(355,561)	(359,825)
Embedded derivative	1,316	1,105
Carrying value of liability component	220,755	216,280
Equity component - net carrying value	230,214	230,214
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest	12,938	12,938	$ 12,938
Non-cash amortization of debt discount	4,264	3,943	3,646
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	189	189	189
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	211	68	(266)
Total interest expense related to the debentures	17,602	17,138	16,507
Committed and uncommitted short-term credit lines	13,700	16,700
Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
2016	0
2017	0
2018	0
2019	0
2020	190,000
Thereafter	613,642
Interest paid	19,134	18,394	17,647
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 640,000
Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date	Dec. 10, 2015
Expiration date	Dec. 10, 2020
Maximum incremental revolving commitments	$ 50,000
Interest rate description	Borrowings under the Amended and Restated Credit Facility bear interest at LIBOR plus an interest margin. The applicable interest margin is based on Vishay's leverage ratio. Based on Vishay's current leverage ratio, borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%. Vishay also pays a fee, also based on its leverage ratio, on undrawn amounts. The undrawn commitment fee, based on Vishay’s current leverage ratio, is 0.35% per annum. The previous credit agreement required Vishay to pay facility fees on the entire commitment amount.
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	1.75%
Commitment fees (in hundredths)	0.35%
Covenant terms	The Amended and Restated Credit Facility allows an unlimited amount of defined “Restricted Payments,” which include cash dividends and share repurchases, provided the Company’s pro forma leverage ratio is less than 2.25 to 1. If the Company’s leverage ratio is greater than 2.25 to 1, the Amended and Restated Credit Facility allows such payments up to $75,000 per annum (subject to a cap of $225,000 for the term of the facility).
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance	The Credit Facility also contains customary events of default, including, but not limited to, failure to pay principal or interest, failure to pay or default under other material debt, material misrepresentation or breach of warranty, violation of certain covenants, a change of control, the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings, the insolvency of Vishay or certain of its significant subsidiaries, and the rendering of a judgment in excess of $25,000 against Vishay or certain of its significant subsidiaries. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Credit Facility, the Company's obligations under the credit facility may be accelerated and the lending commitments under the credit facility terminated.
Available borrowing capacity	$ 442,745	432,445
Letters of credit outstanding	7,255	7,555
Credit facility accelerated repayment minimum judgement	25,000
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, Due 2102 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchangeable unsecured notes, due 2102	$ 38,642	38,642
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares	$ 15.39
Principal amount of notes exchanged			$ 56,400
Common shares issued for conversion of exchangeable notes | shares			3,664,729
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures	$ 38,642			$ 95,042	$ 105,000
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Number of shares of common stock the Notes are exchangeable into (in shares) | shares	2,511,742
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent	$ 106,011	103,841
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date	Nov. 09, 2010
Debt maturity date	Nov. 15, 2040
Cash coupon rate	2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance	8.00%
Effective conversion rate	74.7087
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 13.39
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares	$ 17.41
Convertible senior debentures call date	Nov. 20, 2020
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Debt instrument, Percentage of sale price of common stock (in hundredths)	98.00%
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures	$ 275,000	275,000
Unamortized discount	(169,565)	(171,685)
Embedded derivative	576	526
Carrying value of liability component	106,011	103,841
Equity component - net carrying value	110,094	110,094
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest	6,188	6,188	$ 6,188
Non-cash amortization of debt discount	2,120	1,960	1,811
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	88	88	88
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	50	35	(131)
Total interest expense related to the debentures	$ 8,446	8,271	7,956
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent	$ 54,424	53,249
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date	May 13, 2011
Debt maturity date	May 15, 2041
Cash coupon rate	2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance	8.375%
Effective conversion rate	54.5185
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 18.34
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares	$ 23.84
Convertible senior debentures call date	May 20, 2021
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Debt instrument, Percentage of sale price of common stock (in hundredths)	98.00%
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures	$ 150,000	150,000
Unamortized discount	(96,014)	(97,092)
Embedded derivative	438	341
Carrying value of liability component	54,424	53,249
Equity component - net carrying value	62,246	62,246
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest	3,375	3,375	3,375
Non-cash amortization of debt discount	1,078	993	915
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	47	47	47
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	97	(8)	(50)
Total interest expense related to the debentures	$ 4,597	4,407	4,287
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent	$ 60,320	59,190
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date	May 31, 2012
Debt maturity date	Jun. 01, 2042
Cash coupon rate	2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance	7.50%
Effective conversion rate	87.8395
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 11.38
130% of the conversion price | $ / shares	$ 14.79
Convertible senior debentures call date	Jun. 07, 2022
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Debt instrument, Percentage of sale price of common stock (in hundredths)	98.00%
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures	$ 150,000	150,000
Unamortized discount	(89,982)	(91,048)
Embedded derivative	302	238
Carrying value of liability component	60,320	59,190
Equity component - net carrying value	57,874	57,874
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest	3,375	3,375	3,375
Non-cash amortization of debt discount	1,066	990	920
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	54	54	54
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	64	41	(85)
Total interest expense related to the debentures	$ 4,559	$ 4,460	$ 4,264
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%