Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 28, 2019	Jun. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 29, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Numerator for basic earnings per share:
Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders	$ 3,871	$ 4,509	$ 5,565	$ 8,243	$ 3,418	$ 7,547	$ 7,693	$ 4,988	$ 22,188	$ 23,646	$ 14,345
Adjustment to the numerator for net earnings:
Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive exchangeable notes, net of tax									0	6	24
Numerator for diluted earnings per share:
Net earnings attributable to VPG stockholders									$ 22,188	$ 23,652	$ 14,369
Denominator:
Weighted average shares									13,515	13,439	13,262
Effect of dilutive securities:
Exchangeable notes (in shares)									0	22	145
Restricted stock units (in shares)									82	74	64
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)									82	96	209
Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
Adjusted weighted average shares									13,597	13,535	13,471
Basic earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ 0.33	$ 0.41	$ 0.61	$ 0.25	$ 0.56	$ 0.57	$ 0.37	$ 1.64	$ 1.76	$ 1.08
Diluted earnings per share attributable to VPG stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.41	$ 0.61	$ 0.25	$ 0.56	$ 0.57	$ 0.37	$ 1.63	$ 1.75	$ 1.07