Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019	Jul. 04, 2020	Jun. 29, 2019
Numerator [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$ 24,653	$ 44,477	$ 51,872	$ 119,936
Denominator [Abstract]
Weighted average shares (in shares)	144,651	144,441	144,624	144,409
Outstanding phantom stock units (in shares)	195	180	194	180
Adjusted weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	144,846	144,621	144,818	144,589
Effect of dilutive securities [Abstract]
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)	5	24	50	131
Restricted stock units (in shares)	319	378	364	438
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)	324	402	414	569
Denominator for diluted earnings per share [Abstract]
Adjusted weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	145,170	145,023	145,232	145,158
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.31	$ 0.36	$ 0.83
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.31	$ 0.36	$ 0.83
Convertible Senior Notes, Due 2025 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	18,321	19,055	18,704	19,053
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)	$ 31.40		$ 31.40
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
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)	$ 12.36		$ 12.36
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	155	0	122	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)	$ 16.93		$ 16.93
Weighted Average Other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	387	315	356	315