Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 28, 2017
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jul. 01, 2017
Entity Registrant Name	VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000103730
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float	$ 2,237,000,000
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		134,124,823
Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,129,227