Stockholders' Equity (Details)		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares shares	Oct. 03, 2015 $ / shares	Jul. 04, 2015 $ / shares	Apr. 04, 2015 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares	Sep. 27, 2014 $ / shares	Jun. 28, 2014 $ / shares	Mar. 29, 2014 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 shares $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2013 $ / shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Cash dividends per share | $ / shares		$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0
Shares reserved (in shares)		67,929,582								67,929,582
Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights per share										10
Conversion feature										one-for-one
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	12,129,227								12,129,227
Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Voting rights per share										1
Common stock options outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		105,000								105,000
Restricted stock units outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		1,028,000								1,028,000
Available to grant 2007 Stock Incentive Program - [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		3,617,000								3,617,000
Phantom stock units outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		132,000								132,000
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, Due 2102 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		2,511,742								2,511,742
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)		23,585,258								23,585,258
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										20,544,893
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	9,470,490								9,470,490
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										8,177,775
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	[1]	15,350,865								15,350,865
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)										13,175,925

[1] The convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 are convertible into 20,134,043, 8,014,230, and 12,912,435 shares, respectively, of Vishay common stock. The Company has reserved the maximum amount of shares to be delivered upon a make-whole fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the debentures.