Vishay Intertechnology (VSH) 10-K 19 Feb 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Sep. 27, 2014

Jun. 28, 2014

Mar. 29, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 28, 2013

Jun. 29, 2013

Mar. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2014

Feb. 16, 2015

Entity Information [Line Items]

Document Fiscal Year Focus

2014

Document Fiscal Period Focus

FY

Document Type

10-K

Amendment Flag

FALSE

Document Period End Date

31-Dec-14

[1]

27-Sep-14

[1]

28-Jun-14

[1]

29-Mar-14

[1]

31-Dec-13

[1]

28-Sep-13

[1]

29-Jun-13

[1]

30-Mar-13

[1]

31-Dec-14

Entity Registrant Name

VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY INC

Entity Central Index Key

103730

Current Fiscal Year End Date

-19

Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer

Yes

Entity Voluntary Filers

No

Entity Current Reporting Status

Yes

Entity Filer Category

Large Accelerated Filer

Entity Public Float

$2,068,000,000

Common Stock [Member]

Entity Information [Line Items]

Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding

135,440,811

Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]

Entity Information [Line Items]

Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding

12,129,227

[1]

The Company reports interim financial information for 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31.

Consolidated_Condensed_Balance

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$592,172	$640,348
Short-term investments	514,776	511,231
Accounts receivable, net	271,554	274,083
Inventories:
Finished goods	113,361	109,617
Work in process	185,769	197,600
Raw materials	125,464	125,491
Total inventories	424,594	432,708
Deferred income taxes	17,815	21,716
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	105,539	100,594
Total current assets	1,926,450	1,980,680
Property and equipment, at cost:
Land	91,844	93,685
Buildings and improvements	560,926	560,418
Machinery and equipment	2,368,046	2,340,778
Construction in progress	82,684	95,278
Allowance for depreciation	-2,205,405	-2,163,540
Property and equipment, net	898,095	926,619
Goodwill	144,359	43,132
Other intangible assets, net	186,613	129,951
Other assets	143,256	156,757
Total assets	3,298,773	3,237,139
Current liabilities:
Notes payable to banks	18	2
Trade accounts payable	174,451	163,894
Payroll and related expenses	120,023	120,997
Other accrued expenses	137,576	146,670
Income taxes	24,671	17,502
Total current liabilities	456,739	449,065
Long-term debt less current portion	454,922	364,911
Deferred income taxes	178,900	157,640
Other liabilities	76,811	99,426
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	300,524	287,901
Total liabilities	1,467,896	1,358,943
Commitments and contingencies
Vishay stockholders' equity
Preferred stock
Common stock	13,532	13,520
Class B convertible common stock	1,213	1,213
Capital in excess of par value	2,055,246	2,054,087
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	-175,485	-257,698
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-69,140	61,634
Total Vishay stockholders' equity	1,825,366	1,872,756
Noncontrolling interests	5,511	5,440
Total equity	1,830,877	1,878,196
Total liabilities and equity	$3,298,773	$3,237,139

Consolidated_Condensed_Balance1

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Accounts receivable, allowances for doubtful accounts	$2,406	$2,613
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1	$1
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.10	$0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	300,000,000	300,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	135,324,313	135,202,081
Common Class B [Member]
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$0.10	$0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	12,129,227	12,129,227

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$2,493,282	$2,370,979	$2,230,097
Costs of products sold	1,881,990	1,803,719	1,703,424
Gross profit	611,292	567,260	526,673
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	385,696	368,542	349,625
Restructuring and severance costs	20,897	2,814	0
U.S. pension settlement charges	15,588	0	0
Executive compensation charges (credit)	0	-1,778	0
Gain on Sale of Property	0	0	-12,153
Operating Income	189,111	197,682	189,201
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	-24,457	-23,130	-22,604
Other	2,489	1,853	3,440
Other income (expense), total	-21,968	-21,277	-19,164
Income before taxes	167,143	176,405	170,037
Income tax expense	49,300	52,636	46,506
Net earnings	117,843	123,769	123,531
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	214	789	793
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Vishay stockholders	$117,629	$122,980	$122,738
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders:	$0.80	$0.85	$0.82
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders:	$0.77	$0.81	$0.79
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	147,567	144,963	149,117
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	153,716	151,417	155,844
Cash dividends per share	$0.24	$0	$0

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$117,843	$123,769	$123,531
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-106,295	23,537	14,567
Pension and other post-retirement actuarial items	-25,842	49,038	-29,759
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	1,363	-719	1,192
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-130,774	71,856	-14,000
Comprehensive income	-12,931	195,625	109,531
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	214	789	793
Comprehensive income attributable to Vishay stockholders	($13,145)	$194,836	$108,738

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Continuing operating activities
Net earnings	$117,843	$123,769	$123,531
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	179,455	170,132	168,555
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment	-195	26	-12,894
Accretion of interest on convertible debentures	3,943	3,646	3,028
Inventory write-offs for obsolescence	21,394	19,108	20,865
U.S. pension settlement charges	15,588	0	0
Pensions and other postretirement benefits, net of contributions	-16,145	-9,327	-12,146
Deferred income taxes	15,663	1,734	-6,828
Other	-2,269	-7,009	8,530
Net change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired	-38,240	-10,009	-5,152
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities	297,037	292,070	287,489
Continuing investing activities
Capital expenditures	-156,974	-153,077	-150,291
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,889	4,681	10,241
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired	-197,986	-23,034	-85,493
Purchase of short-term investments	-495,762	-664,867	-381,040
Maturity of short-term investments	485,306	465,668	339,287
Sale of investments	13,658	0	0
Other investing activities	617	-176	-1,828
Net cash used in continuing investing activities	-348,252	-370,805	-269,124
Continuing financing activities
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	0	0	150,000
Issuance costs	0	-4,558	-4,827
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases	-11	-28	-27
Net (payments) proceeds on revolving credit lines	86,000	25,000	-66,000
Common stock repurchases	0	0	-150,000
Net changes in short-term borrowings	16	-146	-115
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-547	-257	-1,040
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	-21,067	0	0
Proceeds from stock options exercised	50	0	174
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	0	196	0
Other financing activities	-1,324	-3,638	0
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing financing activities	27,729	16,569	-71,835
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	-24,690	4,919	1,977
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents from continuing activities	-48,176	-57,247	-51,493
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	640,348	697,595	749,088
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	592,172	640,348	697,595
Common Stock [Member]
Continuing financing activities
Dividends and Interest Paid	-32,477	0	0
Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]
Continuing financing activities
Dividends and Interest Paid	($2,911)	$0	$0

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]	Class B Convertible Common Stock [Member]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member]	Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Total Vishay Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total	Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]
In Thousands		Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]		Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]		Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]		Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]		Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]		Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]		Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2042 [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$14,374		$1,345		$2,086,925		($503,416)		$3,778		$1,603,006		$5,155		$1,608,161
Net earnings	0		0		0		122,738		0		122,738		793		123,531
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0		0		0		-14,000		-14,000		0		-14,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0		0		0		-1,040		-1,040
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests															0
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	1		0		-9		0		0		-8		0		-8
Issuance of convertible debentures		0		0		57,874		0		0		57,874		0		57,874
Share repurchase	-1,395		0		-148,605		0		0		-150,000		0		-150,000
Stock compensation expense	0		0		3,544		0		0		3,544		0		3,544
Stock options exercised	2		0		172		0		0		174		0		174
Conversions from Class B to common stock	132		-132		0		0		0		0		0		0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	13,114		1,213		1,999,901		-380,678		-10,222		1,623,328		4,908		1,628,236
Net earnings	0		0		0		122,980		0		122,980		789		123,769
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0		0		0		71,856		71,856		0		71,856
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0		0		0		-257		-257
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests															0
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	40		0		-2,680		0		0		-2,640		0		-2,640
Stock compensation expense	0		0		636		0		0		636		0		636
Tax effects of stock plan	0		0		196		0		0		196		0		196
Issuance of common stock for exchangeable unsecured notes	366		0		56,034		0		0		56,400		0		56,400
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	13,520		1,213		2,054,087		-257,698		61,634		1,872,756		5,440		1,878,196
Net earnings	0		0		0		117,629		0		117,629		214		117,843
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0		0		0		-130,774		-130,774		0		-130,774
Noncontrolling interest in business acquired	0		0		0		0		0		0		21,895		21,895
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0		0		0		0		-547		-547
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	0		0		424		0		0		424		-21,491		-21,067
Phantom and restricted stock issuances	12		0		-384		0		0		-372		0		-372
Dividends declared	0		0		28		-35,416		0		-35,388		0		-35,388
Stock compensation expense	0		0		2,392		0		0		2,392		0		2,392
Stock options exercised	0		0		50		0		0		50		0		50
Tax effects of stock plan	0		0		-1,351		0		0		-1,351		0		-1,351
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$13,532		$1,213		$2,055,246		($175,485)		($69,140)		$1,825,366		$5,511		$1,830,877

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto1

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Phantom and restricted stock issuances (in shares)	117,895	393,818	11,323
Stock options exercised (in shares)	4,337	0	22,095
Share repurchase (in shares)			13,948,687
Common stock issued upon exchange of convertible securities (in shares)	0	3,664,729	1,323,322
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$0.24	$0	$0

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Vishay and all of its subsidiaries in which a controlling financial interest is maintained.  For those consolidated subsidiaries in which the Company's ownership is less than 100 percent, the outside stockholders' interests are shown as noncontrolling interest in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  Investments in affiliates over which the Company has significant influence but not a controlling interest are carried on the equity basis. Investments in affiliates over which the Company does not have significant influence are accounted for by the cost method. All intercompany transactions, accounts, and profits are eliminated.
	Subsequent Events
	In connection with the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and in accordance with GAAP, the Company evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date of December 31, 2014 through the date these financial statements were issued through the filing of this annual report on Form 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue on product sales during the period when the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with terms of an agreement of sale, title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectibility is reasonably assured, and pricing is fixed or determinable. For the portion of sales where title and risk of loss passes at point of delivery, the Company recognizes revenue upon delivery to the customer, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. The Company historically has had agreements with distributors that provided limited rights of product return. The Company has modified these arrangements to allow distributors a limited credit for unsaleable products, which it terms a "scrap allowance." Consistent with industry practice, the Company also has a "stock, ship and debit" program whereby it considers requests by distributors for credits on previously purchased products that remain in distributors' inventory, to enable the distributors to offer more competitive pricing. In addition, the Company has contractual arrangements whereby it provides distributors with protection against price reductions initiated by the Company after product is sold by the Company to the distributor and prior to resale by the distributor.
	The Company records a reduction of revenue during each period, and records a related accrued expense for the period, based upon its estimate of product returns, scrap allowances, "stock, ship and debit" credits, and price protection credits that will be attributable to sales recorded through the end of the period. The Company makes these estimates based upon sales levels to its distributors during the period, inventory levels at the distributors, current and projected market conditions, and historical experience under the programs. While the Company utilizes a number of different methodologies to estimate the accruals, all of the methodologies take into account sales levels to distributors during the relevant period, inventory levels at the distributors, current and projected market trends and conditions, recent and historical activity under the relevant programs, changes in program policies, and open requests for credits. These procedures require the exercise of significant judgments. The Company believes that it has a reasonable basis to estimate future credits under the programs.
	Royalty revenues, included in net revenues on the consolidated statements of operations, were $4,525, $6,362, and $7,131 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.  The Company records royalty revenue in accordance with agreed upon terms when performance obligations are satisfied, the amount is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. Vishay earns royalties at the point of sale of products which incorporate licensed intellectual property. Accordingly, the amount of royalties recognized is determined based on periodic reporting to Vishay by its licensees, and based on judgments and estimates by Vishay management, which management considers reasonable.
	Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	Shipping and Handling Costs
	Shipping and handling costs are included in costs of products sold.
	Research and Development Expenses
	Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amount charged to expense for research and development (exclusive of purchased in-process research and development) aggregated $65,299, $62,090, and $57,164, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The Company spends additional amounts for the development of machinery and equipment for new processes and for cost reduction measures.
	Income Taxes
	The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances have been established for deferred tax assets which the Company believes do not meet GAAP criteria of "more likely than not" to be realilzed.  This criterion requires a level of judgment regarding future taxable income, which may be revised due to changes in market conditions, tax laws, or other factors. If the Company's assumptions and estimates change in the future, valuation allowances established may be increased, resulting in increased tax expense. Conversely, if the Company is ultimately able to utilize all or a portion of the deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance has been established, then the related portion of the valuation allowance can be released, resulting in decreased tax expense.
	Substantially all earnings generated by non-U.S. subsidiaries prior to 2014, and cash generated in 2014 which is not funding the dividend program or the Capella acquisition, are deemed to be reinvested outside of the United States indefinitely.  Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. federal and state income taxes on these foreign earnings.  Upon distribution of those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits), state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries.
	The Company expects to fund the quarterly dividend program initiated in February 2014, by, at least in part, repatriating current year income of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries and providing appropriate U.S. federal and state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes payable on that current period non-U.S. income.
	The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions.  Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Company's tax positions and determining its provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Company establishes reserves for tax-related uncertainties based on estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. These reserves are established when the Company believes that certain positions might be challenged despite the Company's belief that its tax return positions are fully supportable.  The Company adjusts these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances and the provision for income taxes includes the impact of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate.
	These accruals for tax-related uncertainties are based on management's best estimate of potential tax exposures. When particular matters arise, a number of years may elapse before such matters are audited by tax authorities and finally resolved.  Favorable resolution of such matters could be recognized as a reduction to the Company's effective tax rate in the year of resolution.  Unfavorable resolution of any particular issue could increase the effective tax rate and may require the use of cash in the year of resolution.  The amount included in current liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets reflect only amounts expected to be settled in cash within one year.
	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments
	Cash and cash equivalents includes demand deposits and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.  Highly liquid investments with original maturities greater than three months, but less than one year are classified as short-term investments.  At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company's short-term investments were comprised of time deposits with financial institutions whose original maturity exceeds three months, but less than one year.
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The allowance is determined through an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable and assessments of risk that are based on historical trends and an evaluation of the impact of current and projected economic conditions. The Company evaluates the past-due status of its trade receivables based on contractual terms of sale. If the financial condition of the Company's customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Bad debt expense (income realized upon subsequent collection) was $(424), $62, and $(24) for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
	Inventories
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or market. Inventories are adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions.
	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated principally by the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are being depreciated over useful lives of seven to ten years. Buildings and building improvements are being depreciated over useful lives of twenty to forty years. Construction in progress is not depreciated until the assets are placed in service. The estimated cost to complete construction in progress at December 31, 2014 was approximately $40,980. Depreciation of capital lease assets is included in total depreciation expense. Depreciation expense was $160,804, $155,064, and $153,801 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.  Gains and losses on the disposal of assets which do not qualify for presentation as discontinued operations are included in the determination of operating margin (within selling, general, and administrative expenses).  Individually material gains and losses on disposal are separately disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but rather are tested for impairment at least annually. The required annual impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter of each year.  These tests are performed more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired.  The Company's business segments (see Note 15) represent its reporting units for goodwill impairment testing purposes.  Certain of the Company's tradenames have been assigned indefinite useful lives.
	Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives.  Patents and acquired technology are being amortized over useful lives of seven to twenty-five years.  Capitalized software is amortized over periods of three to ten years, primarily included in costs of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations.  Customer relationships are amortized over useful lives of five to twenty years.  Noncompete agreements are amortized over periods of three to ten years. The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets.
	GAAP prescribes a two-step quantitative method for determining goodwill impairment. The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment before performing the two-step quantitative impairment test. If it is determined, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is not more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step quantitative impairment test is not required. If it is determined that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step quantitative impairment test is required. In the first step, the Company determines the fair value of the reporting unit and compares that fair value to the net book value of the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting unit is determined using various valuation techniques, including a comparable companies market multiple approach and a discounted cash flow analysis (an income approach).
	If the net book value of the reporting unit were to exceed the fair value, the Company would then perform the second step of the quantitative impairment test, which requires allocation of the reporting unit's fair value to all of its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, with any residual fair value being allocated to goodwill. An impairment charge will be recognized only when the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill is less than its carrying amount.
	The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment of the indefinite-lived intangible assets before performing a quantitative impairment test. The fair value of the tradenames is measured as the discounted cash flow savings realized from owning such tradenames and not having to pay a royalty for their use.
	There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment tests completed in 2014, 2013, or 2012.
	Upon determining that an intangible asset classified as indefinite-lived is impaired, the Company reassesses the useful life of the impaired assets and begins to amortize the remaining carrying value over that useful life if it is determined that the asset no longer has an indefinite useful life.
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The carrying value of long-lived assets held-and-used, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, is evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset group.  Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group.  Losses on long-lived assets held-for-sale, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for anticipated disposal costs.
	Available-for-Sale Securities
	Short-term investments and other assets reported on the consolidated balance sheets include time deposits with financial institutions whose original maturity exceeds three months, but less than one year and investments in marketable securities which are classified as available-for-sale. These assets include short-term investments acquired in the Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) Inc. ("Capella") acquisition (see Note 2), assets that are held in trust related to the Company's non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans (see Note 11), and assets that are intended to fund a portion of the Company's other postretirement benefit obligations outside of the U.S. These assets are reported at fair value, based on quoted market prices as of the end of the reporting period. Unrealized gains and losses are reported, net of their related tax consequences, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders' equity until sold. At the time of sale, the assets that are held in trust related to the Company's non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans, any gains (losses) calculated by the specific identification method are recognized as a reduction (increase) to benefits expense, within selling, general, and administrative expenses.
	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Financial Instruments
	The Company uses financial instruments in the normal course of its business, including from time to time, derivative financial instruments. Additionally, from time to time, the Company enters into contracts that are not considered derivative financial instruments in their entirety, but that include embedded derivative features. The convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 contain embedded derivatives that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, outstanding derivative instruments were not material.
	The Company reports derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet at their fair values.  The accounting for changes in fair value depends upon the purpose of the derivative instrument and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting. For instruments designated as hedges, the effective portion of gains or losses is reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion, if any, is reported in current period net earnings (loss).  Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges, including embedded derivatives, are recorded in current period net earnings (loss).
	The Company has in the past used interest rate swap agreements to modify variable rate obligations to fixed rate obligations, thereby reducing exposure to market rate fluctuations. The Company uses financial instruments such as forward exchange contracts to mitigate a portion, but not all, of the risk associated with its firm commitments denominated in foreign currencies.  The purpose of the Company's foreign currency management is to minimize the effect of exchange rate changes on actual cash flows from foreign currency denominated transactions.
	Other financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, held-to-maturity short-term investments, accounts receivable, and notes payable. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
	Foreign Currency Translation
	The Company has significant operations outside of the United States. The Company finances its operations in Europe and certain locations in Asia in local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. The Company's operations in Israel and most significant locations in Asia are largely financed in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
	For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments do not impact the consolidated results of operations and are reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. While the translation of revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars does not directly impact the statement of operations, the translation effectively increases or decreases the U.S. dollar equivalent of revenues generated and expenses incurred in those foreign currencies.
	For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated results of operations.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	Compensation costs related to stock-based payment transactions are recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity (or liability) instruments issued. Compensation cost is recognized over the period that an officer, employee, or non-employee director provides service in exchange for the award. For options and restricted stock units subject to graded vesting, the Company recognizes expense over the service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards.  The Company recognizes compensation cost for restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are expected to vest and records cumulative adjustments in the period that the expectation changes.
	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Commitments and Contingencies
	Liabilities for loss contingencies, including environmental remediation costs, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. The costs for a specific environmental remediation site are discounted if the aggregate amount of the obligation and the amount and timing of the cash payments for that site are fixed or reliably determinable based upon information derived from the remediation plan for that site. Accrued liabilities for environmental matters recorded at December 31, 2014 and 2013 do not include claims against third parties.
	Restructuring and Severance Costs
	Restructuring and severance costs reflect charges resulting from cost reduction programs implemented by the Company.  Restructuring and severance costs include exit costs, severance benefits pursuant to an on-going arrangement, voluntary termination compensation under a defined program, and any related pension curtailment and settlement charges.
	The Company recognizes expense for one-time benefits only after management has committed to a plan, the plan is sufficiently detailed to provide the number, classification, and location of employees to be terminated as well as the expected completion date, the plan has been sufficiently communicated to employees such that they are able to determine the type and amount of benefits they will receive if terminated, and it is unlikely that the plan will be significantly changed or withdrawn. If an employee is not required to render service beyond a minimum retention period, the Company recognizes expense once the aforementioned criteria have been met. If an employee is required to render service beyond a minimum retention period, the Company recognizes expense over the period that the employee is required to render future service.
	The Company recognizes expense for on-going benefit arrangements when the liability is reasonably estimable and considered probable.
	The Company recognizes expense for voluntary separation / early retirement when the employee delivers an irrevocable voluntary termination notice pursuant to a defined company program.
The Company recognizes other exit costs as incurred.
Self-Insurance Programs
The Company uses a combination of insurance and self-insurance mechanisms to provide for the potential liabilities for workers' compensation, general liability, property damage, director and officers' liability, and vehicle liability.
As part of its self-insurance program for certain risks, the Company created a wholly-owned captive insurance entity in 2007. At December 31, 2014, the captive insurance entity provides only property and general liability insurance, although it is licensed to also provide casualty and directors' and officers' insurance. The captive insurance entity had no amounts accrued for outstanding claims at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Certain cash and investments held by the captive insurance entity are restricted primarily for the purpose of potential insurance claims. Restricted cash of $7,309 and $7,927 is included in other noncurrent assets at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, representing required statutory reserves of the captive insurance entity.
Convertible Debentures
The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash in a manner that reflects the Company's nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The liability component at issuance is recognized at fair value, based on the fair value of a similar instrument that does not have a conversion feature. A discount is recorded if debentures are issued at a coupon rate which is below the rate of a similar instrument that did not have a conversion feature at issuance.  The equity component is based on the excess of the principal amount of the debentures over the fair value of the liability component, after adjusting for an allocation of debt issuance costs and the deferred tax impact, and is recorded as capital in excess of par. Debt discounts are amortized as additional non-cash interest expense over the expected life of the debt.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_Ac

Acquisition and Divestiture Activities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Acquisition and Divestiture Activities [Abstract]
Acquisition and Divestiture Activities	Note 2 - Acquisition and Divestiture Activities
	As part of its growth strategy, the Company seeks to expand through targeted acquisitions of other manufacturers of electronic components that have established positions in major markets, reputations for product quality and reliability, and product lines with which the Company has substantial marketing and technical expertise.
	Year ended December 31, 2014
	Holy Stone Polytech Co., Ltd.
	On June 11, 2014, Vishay acquired Holy Stone Polytech Co., Ltd. ("Holy Stone Polytech"), a Japanese manufacturer of tantalum capacitors and formerly a subsidiary of Holy Stone Enterprise Co. Ltd., for $20,576, net of cash acquired. The acquisition is expected to strengthen the Company's position in tantalum capacitors, especially in Asia. For financial reporting purposes, the results of operations of Holy Stone Polytech have been included in the Capacitors segment since June 11, 2014. The inclusion of this business did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2014.  Based on an estimate of their fair values, the Company allocated $3,736 of the purchase price to definite-lived intangible assets. After allocating the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on an estimation of their fair values at the date of acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill of $6,328 related to this acquisition. The goodwill associated with this transaction is not deductible for income tax purposes. The Company will test the goodwill for impairment at least annually in accordance with GAAP.
	Capella Microsystems Inc.
	On July 11, 2014, Vishay entered into an agreement to acquire Capella for approximately $205,000. Capella is a fabless IC design company specializing in optoelectronic products. As a first step in the acquisition, Vishay launched a tender offer for Capella's outstanding shares. A total of 38,703,705 shares of Capella, or 88.95% of outstanding shares, were tendered and accepted by Vishay. The offer period expired on September 1, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of the tender offer, Vishay paid NT$139 for each share tendered. The aggregate purchase price was $180,167. Capella had cash and short-term investments on hand of $50,195 at the date of acquisition. Vishay funded the acquisition with cash on hand and $53,000 of borrowings under its credit facility.  Subsequent to the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest on December 31, 2014, the Company expects to repatriate cash from the current earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries to the United States primarily to repay those borrowings on the revolving credit facility, and also to realign the acquired entity structure to have Capella's U.S. subsidiary directly owned by Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.  The acquisition is expected to strengthen the Company's position in optoelectronic sensors.
	Upon the close of the tender offer, Vishay controlled Capella and began consolidating it in its financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the results and operations and net assets of Capella have been included in the Optoelectronic Components segment. The interest represented by the shares not tendered are presented as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements. The fair value of the noncontrolling interest was determined based on the observable quoted share price as of the acquisition date.  Capella's results were not material to the Company's consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2014.
	Vishay acquired the remaining outstanding shares of Capella on December 31, 2014 pursuant to the merger agreement.  In connection with the closing of the merger, all remaining holders of Capella common stock other than Vishay and its subsidiaries received the same consideration for their shares as the holders who tendered their shares in the tender offer, or $21,067 in the aggregate.
	Based on an estimate of their fair values, the Company allocated the purchase price of the acquisition as follows:
	Short-term investments	$	47,438
	Working capital (excluding cash and short-term investments)		(6,374	)
	Property and equipment		4,134
	Intangible assets:
	Patents and acquired technology		14,870
	Capitalized software		101
	Customer relationships		54,400
	Tradenames		5,110
	Total intangible assets		74,481
	Other, net		(454	)
	Deferred taxes, net		(16,769	)
	Total identified assets and liabilities		102,456
	Cash paid to Capella stockholders, net of cash acquired		177,410
	Fair value of noncontrolling interest		21,895
	Goodwill	$	96,849
	Note 2 - Acquisition and Divestiture Activities (continued)
	The weighted average useful lives for patents and acquired technology, customer relationships, and tradenames are 10, 7, and 7 years, respectively. The Company will test the goodwill for impairment at least annually in accordance with GAAP. The goodwill associated with this transaction is not deductible for income tax purposes.
	In evaluating the acquisition of Capella, the Company focused primarily on the ability to synergize Capella's optoelectronics design capabilities with Vishay's existing optoelectronics product lines and customers. As a result, the fair value of the acquired assets, including identified intangible assets, corresponds to a relatively smaller portion of the acquisition price, with the Company recording a substantial amount of goodwill associated with the acquisition.
	The Company recognized $843 of acquisition costs classified as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses in its consolidated statements of operations.
	Pro Forma Results
	The unaudited pro forma results would have been as follows, assuming the 2014 acquisitions had occurred as of January 1, 2013:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Pro forma net revenues	$	2,522,010		$	2,446,503
	Pro forma net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders		114,510			128,252
	Pro forma basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.78		$	0.88
	Pro forma diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.75		$	0.85
	The pro forma information presented for the year ended December 31, 2014 was adjusted to exclude acquisition-related costs incurred in 2014. The pro forma information also includes adjustments for interest expense that would have been incurred to finance the acquisition, amortization of acquired intangible assets, depreciation of acquired property and equipment, and tax related effects.
	The unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have been attained had the acquisition occurred on January 1, 2013.
	Year ended December 31, 2013
	MCB Industrie S.A.
	On June 13, 2013, Vishay acquired MCB Industrie S.A. ("MCB Industrie") in France, a well-established manufacturer of specialty resistors and sensors, for $23,034, net of cash acquired. The products and technology portfolio acquired is expected to enable Vishay to expand its presence in the European industrial market. For financial reporting purposes, the results of operations for this business have been included in the Resistors & Inductors segment from June 13, 2013. The inclusion of this business did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2013. Based on an estimate of their fair values, the Company allocated $5,433 of the purchase price to definite-lived intangible assets.  After allocating the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on an estimation of their fair values at the date of acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill of $7,985 related to this acquisition.  The goodwill associated with this transaction is not deductible for income tax purposes.
	Had this acquisition occurred as of the beginning of the periods presented in these consolidated financial statements, the pro forma statements of operations would not be materially different than the consolidated statements of operations presented.
	Year ended December 31, 2012
	HiRel Systems LLC
	On January 13, 2012, Vishay acquired HiRel Systems LLC, a leading supplier of high reliability transformers, inductors, coils, and power conversion products, for $85,493, net of cash acquired. The products and technology portfolio acquired further enhanced the Company's inductors portfolio, particularly in the field of custom magnetics for medical, military, aerospace and aviation, and applications in the industrial and commercial field such as renewable energy and test and measurement equipment. For financial reporting purposes, the results of operations for this business have been included in the Resistors & Inductors segment from January 13, 2012. Based on an estimate of their fair values, the Company allocated $43,950 of the purchase price to definite-lived intangible assets. After allocating the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on an estimation of their fair values at the date of acquisition, the Company recorded goodwill of $25,815 related to this acquisition. The goodwill associated with this transaction is deductible for income tax purposes.
	Had this acquisition occurred as of the beginning of the periods presented in these consolidated financial statements, the pro forma statements of operations would not be materially different than the consolidated statements of operations presented.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		Optoelectronic Components			Resistors & Inductors			Capacitors			Total
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	-		$	34,866		$	-		$	34,866
	MCB Industrie acquisition		-			7,985			-			7,985
	Exchange rate effects		-			281			-			281
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	-		$	43,132		$	-		$	43,132
	Holy Stone Polytech acquisition		-			-			6,328			6,328
	Capella acquisition		96,849			-			-			96,849
	Exchange rate effects		-			(986	)		(964	)		(1,950	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	96,849		$	42,146		$	5,364		$	144,359
	Other intangible assets are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
	(Definite-lived):
	Patents and acquired technology	$	108,190		$	92,842
	Capitalized software		53,369			55,893
	Customer relationships		153,853			99,558
	Tradenames		39,612			35,845
	Non-competition agreements		2,283			1,948
			357,307			286,086
	Accumulated amortization:
	Patents and acquired technology		(71,700	)		(66,337	)
	Capitalized software		(45,979	)		(50,006	)
	Customer relationships		(50,630	)		(40,727	)
	Tradenames		(21,384	)		(18,560	)
	Non-competition agreements		(1,360	)		(864	)
			(191,053	)		(176,494	)
	Net Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		166,254			109,592
	Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization
	(Indefinite-lived):
	Tradenames		20,359			20,359
		$	186,613		$	129,951
	Note 3 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (continued)
	Amortization expense (excluding capitalized software) was $18,651, $15,068, and $14,754, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
	Estimated annual amortization expense of intangible assets on the balance sheet at December 31, 2014 for each of the next five years is as follows:
	2015	$	27,235
	2016		25,593
	2017		21,757
	2018		18,377
	2019		14,396

Restructuring_and_Related_Acti

Restructuring and Related Activities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring and Related Activities	Note 4 – Restructuring and Related Activities
	The Company places a strong emphasis on controlling its costs.
	Historically, the Company's primary cost reduction technique was through the transfer of production to the extent possible from high-labor-cost countries, such as the United States and Western Europe, to lower-labor-cost countries, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the People's Republic of China, and the Philippines. Between 2001 and 2009, the Company recorded, in the consolidated statements of operations, restructuring and severance costs and related asset write-downs in order to reduce its cost structure going forward.
	The Company also incurred significant costs to restructure and integrate acquired businesses, which was included in the cost of the acquisitions under then-applicable GAAP.
	The Company did not initiate any new restructuring projects in the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, or 2010.
	On October 28, 2013, the Company announced various cost reduction programs as part of its continuous efforts to improve efficiency and operating performance. The cash costs of these programs, primarily severance, are expected to be approximately $32,000.  Complete implementation of all of the programs is expected to occur before the end of the first fiscal quarter of 2016.  Many of the severance costs will be recognized ratably over the required stay periods.
	The following table summarizes restructuring and related expenses which were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 and reported on a separate line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	MOSFETS Enhanced Competitiveness Program	$	6,025		$	2,328
	Voluntary Separation / Retirement Program		12,792			486
	Modules Production Transfer Program		2,080			-
	Total	$	20,897		$	2,814
	MOSFETs Enhanced Competitiveness Program
	Over a period of approximately 2 years and in a period of discrete steps, the manufacture of wafers for a substantial share of products will be transferred into a more cost-efficient fab. As a consequence, certain other manufacturing currently occurring in-house will be transferred to third-party foundries.
	The total severance costs associated with these initiatives are expected to be approximately $16,000. Employees generally must remain with the Company during the production transfer period. Accordingly, the Company will accrue these severance costs ratably over the respective employees' remaining service periods.
	The following table summarizes the activity to date related to this program:
	Expense recorded in 2013	$	2,328
	Cash paid		(267	)
	Foreign currency translation		-
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	2,061
	Expense recorded in 2014		6,025
	Cash paid		(856	)
	Foreign currency translation		-
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	7,230
	Severance benefits are generally paid in a lump sum at cessation of employment. The current portion of the liability is $786 and is included in other accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets. The non-current portion of the liability is included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
	Note 4 – Restructuring and Related Activities (continued)
	Voluntary Separation / Retirement Program
	The voluntary separation / early retirement program was offered to employees worldwide who were eligible because they met job classification, age, and years-of-service criteria as of October 31, 2013. The program benefits vary by country and job classification, but generally include a cash loyalty bonus based on years of service. All employees eligible for the program have been identified, and have left or will leave the Company after the expiration of their respective transition periods.
	These employees generally were not aligned with any particular segment. The effective separation / retirement date for most employees who accepted the offer was June 30, 2014 or earlier, with a few exceptions to allow for a transition period.
	The following table summarizes the activity to date related to this program:
	Expense recorded in 2013	$	486
	Cash paid		(98	)
	Foreign currency translation		3
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	391
	Expense recorded in 2014		12,792
	Cash paid		(8,054	)
	Foreign currency translation		(455	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	4,674
	The payment terms vary by country, but generally are paid in a lump sum at cessation of employment. The entire amount of the liability is considered current and is included in other accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
	Modules Production Transfer
	In an effort to reduce costs and streamline production of its module products within its Diodes segment, the Company committed to two smaller cost reduction programs related to the transferring of production of certain of its products.
	The following table summarizes the activity to date related to this program:
	Expense recorded in 2014	$	2,080
	Cash paid		(464	)
	Foreign currency translation		(121	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,495
	Severance benefits are generally paid in a lump sum at cessation of employment. The entire amount of the liability is considered current and is included in other accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
	Gain on Sale of Vacated Property
	On April 3, 2012, Vishay sold a property in Belgium vacated as a result of its restructuring activities in prior years for approximately $14,200. At closing, Vishay recognized a gain on the sale of the property of $12,153 within its statements of operations and proceeds from the sale of property and equipment of $3,406 within its statement of cash flows. The remaining proceeds are reported as proceeds from the sale of property and equipment within the statements of cash flows as the cash is received.  At December 31, 2014, the remaining amount receivable by the Company is $1,771.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Note 5 – Income Taxes
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and noncontrolling interests consists of the following components:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Domestic	$	(50,106	)	$	(26,065	)	$	(15,995	)
	Foreign		217,249			202,470			186,032
		$	167,143		$	176,405		$	170,037
	Significant components of income taxes are as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	(27,031	)	$	(603	)	$	8,409
	State and local		386			280			574
	Foreign		60,282			51,225			44,351
			33,637			50,902			53,334
	Deferred:
	Federal		7,999			2,215			(8,557	)
	State and local		204			92			(240	)
	Foreign		7,460			(573	)		1,969
			15,663			1,734			(6,828	)
	Total income tax expense	$	49,300		$	52,636		$	46,506
	Note 5 – Income Taxes (continued)
	Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Pension and other retiree obligations	$	43,393		$	34,343
	Inventories		8,013			8,759
	Net operating loss carryforwards		198,677			182,691
	Tax credit carryforwards		25,046			20,780
	Other accruals and reserves		32,376			31,469
	Total gross deferred tax assets		307,505			278,042
	Less valuation allowance		(186,614	)		(183,289	)
			120,891			94,753
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Tax over book depreciation		(10,257	)		(10,652	)
	Intangible assets other than goodwill		(20,507	)		(1,539	)
	Earnings not permanently reinvested		(25,334	)		(1,652	)
	Convertible debentures		(175,935	)		(162,371	)
	Other - net		(3,590	)		(2,741	)
	Total gross deferred tax liabilities		(235,623	)		(178,955	)
	Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	(114,732	)	$	(84,202	)
	The Company makes significant judgments regarding the realizability of its deferred tax assets (principally net operating losses). The carrying value of deferred tax assets is based on the Company's assessment that it is more likely than not that the Company will realize these assets after consideration of all available positive and negative evidence.
	A reconciliation of income tax expense at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to actual income tax provision is as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Tax at statutory rate	$	58,500		$	61,742		$	59,513
	State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit		384			242			217
	Effect of foreign operations		(27,372	)		(18,696	)		(19,083	)
	Tax on earnings not permanently reinvested		25,728			-			-
	Unrecognized tax benefits		(21,603	)		2,862			6,626
	Change in valuation allowance on non-U.S. deferred tax assets		-			(285	)		(4,036	)
	Foreign income taxable in the U.S.		13,499			11,961			7,476
	U.S. foreign tax credits		-			-			(4,257	)
	Effect of statutory rate changes on deferred tax assets		226			(2,867	)		-
	Other		(62	)		(2,323	)		50
	Total income tax expense	$	49,300		$	52,636		$	46,506
	Note 5 – Income Taxes (continued)
	Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 include certain discrete tax items for changes in uncertain tax positions, valuation allowances, tax rates, and other related items. These items total $1,228 (tax benefit), $4,197 (tax benefit), and $4,036 (tax benefit) in 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
	For the year ended December 31, 2014, the discrete items include a $1,228 benefit recorded in the fourth fiscal quarter due to the enactment of The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014.  The discrete items also include benefits upon the completion of certain tax examinations and lapses in the statute of limitations, offset by additional tax expenses for expected repatriation of cash and profits of non-U.S. subsidiaries to the United States, primarily to repay amounts borrowed on the revolving credit facility to provide future flexibility given the legal entity and the financial structure utilized for the Capella acquisition. The latter two items netted to an immaterial amount.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, the discrete items include a $2,867 benefit recorded in the third fiscal quarter due to a new tax law enacted in Israel in July 2013 which effectively increases the corporate income tax rate on certain types of income earned after January 1, 2014, and, therefore, increases the deferred tax assets, and a $1,330 benefit recorded in the first fiscal quarter due to the retroactive enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, signed into law on January 2, 2013.
	For the year ended December 31, 2012, the discrete item is the reduction of a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset in Israel due to a merger of several of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries in Israel in the fourth fiscal quarter which will allow for the realization of these tax benefits that likely otherwise would have been forgone.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company had the following significant net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes:
					Expires
Austria	$	14,515		No expiration
Belgium		173,541		No expiration
Brazil		14,876		No expiration
Germany		42,968		No expiration
Israel		62,528		No expiration
Netherlands		23,411			2015 - 2023
United States		78,784			2033 - 2034
California		53,979			2016 - 2034
Pennsylvania		736,159			2018 - 2034
Approximately $64,232 of the carryforwards in Belgium resulted from the Company's acquisition of BCcomponents in 2002.  Valuation allowances of $21,833 and $24,788, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, have been recorded through goodwill for these acquired net operating losses. Prior to the adoption of updated guidance in ASC Topic 805 on January 1, 2009, if tax benefits were recognized through the utilization of these acquired net operating losses, the benefits of such loss utilization were recorded as a reduction to goodwill. After the adoption of the updated guidance on January 1, 2009, the benefits of such losses are recorded as a reduction of tax expense.
At December 31, 2014, the Company had the following significant tax credit carryforwards available:
				Expires
U.S. Foreign Tax Credit	$	11,093			2020 - 2022
California Research Credit		10,926		No expiration
Note 5 – Income Taxes (continued)
At December 31, 2014, no provision has been made for U.S. federal and state income taxes on approximately $2,686,284 of foreign earnings.  Substantially all earnings generated by non-U.S. subsidiaries prior to 2014, and cash generated in 2014 which is not funding the dividend program or the Capella acquisition (as discussed below), are deemed to be reinvested outside of the United States indefinitely.  Upon distribution of those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits), state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries.  Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred U.S. income tax liability is not practicable because of the complexities associated with its hypothetical calculation.
In 2008, the Company recorded additional tax expense for an expected repatriation of $112,500 because such earnings were not deemed to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States.  During 2012 and 2014, the Company repatriated $72,100 and $4,588 of cash, respectively, which completed the repatriation program initiated in 2008.  This repatriated cash was used to reduce the amount outstanding under the Company's revolving credit facility.
During 2014, the Company borrowed $53,000 on its revolving credit facility to achieve future flexibility given the legal entity and the financial structure utilized for the Capella acquisition (see Note 2).  Subsequent to the acquisition of the noncontrolling interest in Capella on December 31, 2014, the Company expects to repatriate cash from the current earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries to the United States primarily to repay those borrowings on the revolving credit facility, and also to realign the acquired entity structure to have Capella's U.S. subsidiary directly owned by Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.   The tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes all U.S. federal and state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes payable related to that anticipated repatriation transaction.
The Company expects to fund the quarterly dividend program initiated in February 2014, by, at least in part, repatriating current year income of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries and providing appropriate U.S. federal and state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes payable on that current period non-U.S. income.
Net income taxes paid were $62,051, $44,757, and $46,611 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
See Note 19 for a discussion of the tax-related uncertainties for the pre-spin-off period of Vishay Precision Group, Inc. ("VPG"), which was spun off on July 6, 2010.
Note 5 – Income Taxes (continued)
The following table summarizes changes in the liabilities associated with unrecognized tax benefits:
	Years ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Balance at beginning of year	$	45,877		$	51,771		$	48,152
Addition based on tax positions related to the current year		1,641			-			665
Addition based on tax positions related to prior years		6,484			4,015			3,498
Currency translation adjustments		(1,387	)		310			(215	)
Reduction based on tax positions related to prior years		-			(2,054	)		-
Reduction for settlements		(3,556	)		(7,316	)		(329	)
Reduction for lapses of statute of limitation		(22,476	)		(849	)		-
Balance at end of year	$	26,583		$	45,877		$	51,771
All of the unrecognized tax benefits of $26,583 and $45,877, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, would reduce the effective tax rate if recognized.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had accrued interest and penalties related to the unrecognized tax benefits of $3,104 and $7,766, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recognized $1,839, $2,218, and $2,833, respectively, in interest and penalties.
The Company and its subsidiaries file U.S. federal income tax returns, as well as tax returns in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions.  During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, certain tax examinations were completed and certain statutes of limitations lapsed.  The tax provision for those years includes adjustments related to the resolution of these matters, as reflected in the table above.  In 2014, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service concluded its examination of Vishay's U.S. federal tax returns through the 2011 tax year.  The tax returns of other non-U.S. subsidiaries which are currently under examination include France (2012 and 2013), Germany (2009 through 2012), India (2004 through 2012), Israel (2009 through 2012), and the Republic of China (Taiwan) (2012).  The Company and its subsidiaries also file income tax returns in other taxing jurisdictions in the U.S. and around the world, many of which are still open to examinations.
The timing of the resolution of income tax examinations is highly uncertain, as are the amounts and timing of tax payments that result from such examinations.  These events could cause large fluctuations in the balance sheet classification of current and non-current unrecognized tax benefits.  The Company believes that in the next 12 months it is reasonably possible that certain income tax examinations will conclude or the statutes of limitation on certain income tax periods open to examination will expire, or both.  Given the uncertainties described above, the Company can only determine an estimate of potential decreases in unrecognized tax benefits ranging from $2,400 to $2,700.

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Note 6 – Long-Term Debt
	Long-term debt consists of the following:
		31-Dec-14			31-Dec-13
	Credit facility	$	200,000		$	114,000
	Exchangeable unsecured notes, due 2102		38,642			38,642
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2040		103,841			101,846
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2041		53,249			52,264
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2042		59,190			58,159
			454,922			364,911
	Less current portion		-			-
		$	454,922		$	364,911
	Credit Facility
	The Company maintains a credit facility with a consortium of banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the "Credit Facility"). On August 8, 2013, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which provides an aggregate commitment of $640,000 of revolving loans available until August 8, 2018. The original credit agreement became effective December 1, 2010 and was scheduled to expire on December 1, 2015. The Credit Facility, as amended and restated, also provides for the ability of Vishay to request up to $50,000 of incremental revolving commitments, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
	Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus an interest margin.  The applicable interest margin is based on the Company's leverage ratio.  Based on the Company's current leverage ratio, borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%.  The interest rate on the Company's borrowings will increase to LIBOR plus 2.00% if the Company's leverage ratio equals or exceeds 2.50 to 1 and will decrease to LIBOR plus 1.50% if the Company's leverage ratio decreases below 1.50 to 1.  Vishay is also required to pay facility fees on the entire commitment amount based on the Company's leverage ratio.  Based on the Company's current leverage ratio, the facility fee is 0.35% per annum.  Such facility fee will increase to 0.50% per annum if the Company's leverage ratio equals or exceeds 2.50 to 1 and will decrease to 0.30% per annum if the leverage ratio decreases below 1.50 to 1.
	The August 8, 2013 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also removes certain restrictions related to the incurrence and repayment of certain intercompany indebtedness, mergers, liquidations, and transfers of ownership of wholly owned subsidiaries that were present in the original credit agreement. These changes will enable the Company to streamline its complex subsidiary structure and provide greater operating flexibility.
	The borrowings under the Credit Facility are secured by a lien on substantially all assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, machinery and equipment, and general intangibles (but excluding real estate, intellectual property registered or licensed for use in, or arising under the laws of, any country other than the United States, assets located outside of the United States and deposit and securities accounts), of Vishay and certain significant subsidiaries located in the United States, and pledges of stock in certain significant domestic and foreign subsidiaries; and are guaranteed by certain significant subsidiaries. Certain of the Company's subsidiaries are permitted to borrow under the Credit Facility, subject to the satisfaction of specified conditions. Any borrowings by these subsidiaries under the Credit Facility are guaranteed by Vishay and certain subsidiaries. The Credit Facility also limits or restricts the Company and its subsidiaries, from, among other things, incurring indebtedness, incurring liens on its respective assets, making investments and acquisitions, making asset sales, and making other restricted payments, and requires the Company to comply with other covenants, including the maintenance of specific financial ratios.
	The Credit Facility permits the Company to repurchase shares of its common stock or pay cash dividends up to a permitted capacity, conditioned upon Vishay maintaining (i) a pro forma leverage ratio of 2.75 to 1.00, (ii) a pro forma interest expense coverage ratio of 2.00 to 1.00, and (iii) $300,000 of available liquidity, as defined in the Credit Facility.  The permitted capacity to repurchase shares of the Company's outstanding common stock or pay cash dividends under the Credit Facility increases each quarter by an amount equal to 20% of net income. At December 31, 2014, the Credit Facility allows the Company to repurchase its common stock or pay cash dividends up to $192,733 (See Note 7).  The amount and timing of any future stock repurchases or cash dividends remains subject to authorization of the Company's Board of Directors.
	Note 6 – Long-Term Debt (continued)
	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.
	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, there was $432,445 and $518,345, respectively, available under the Credit Facility. Letters of credit totaling $7,555 and $7,655 were outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Convertible Senior Debentures
	Vishay currently has three issuances of convertible senior debentures outstanding with generally congruent terms. The proceeds from the issuance of the convertible senior debentures were used to repurchase shares of the Company's common stock.  The quarterly cash dividend program of the Company results in adjustments to the conversion rate and effective conversion price for each issuance of the Company's convertible senior debentures effective as of the ex-dividend date of each cash dividend.
	The following table summarizes some key facts and terms regarding the three series of outstanding convertible senior debentures following the adjustment made to the conversion rate of the debentures on the ex-dividend date of the December 16, 2014 dividend payment:
		Due 2040			Due 2041			Due 2042
	Issuance date	9-Nov-10			13-May-11			31-May-12
	Maturity date	15-Nov-40			15-May-41			1-Jun-42
	Principal amount	$	275,000		$	150,000		$	150,000
	Cash coupon rate (per annum)		2.25	%		2.25	%		2.25	%
	Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance (per annum)		8	%		8.375	%		7.5	%
	Conversion rate effective November 24, 2014 (per $1 principal amount)		73.2147			53.4282			86.0829
	Effective conversion price effective November 24, 2014 (per share)	$	13.66		$	18.72		$	11.62
	130% of the conversion price (per share)	$	17.76		$	24.34		$	15.11
	Call date	20-Nov-20			20-May-21			7-Jun-22
	Prior to three months before the maturity date, the holders may only convert their debentures under the following circumstances: (1) during any fiscal quarter  after the first full quarter subsequent to issuance, if the sale price of Vishay common stock reaches 130% of the conversion price for a specified period; (2) the trading price of the debentures falls below 98% of the product of the sale price of Vishay's common stock and the conversion rate for a specified period; (3) Vishay calls any or all of the debentures for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events.
	The convertible debentures due 2042 became convertible subsequent to the September 27, 2014 evaluation of the conversion criteria, due to the sale price of Vishay's common stock exceeding 130% of the conversion price for the applicable period in the third fiscal quarter of 2014. The debentures due 2042 remained convertible until December 31, 2014, at which time the conversion criteria was reevaluated.  The convertible debentures due 2042 are no longer convertible subsequent to the December 31, 2014 reevaluation of the conversion criteria.  The conversion criteria of the convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 will continue to be evaluated and the convertible debentures may become convertible again in the future.  The debentures are convertible, subject to certain conditions, into cash, shares of Vishay's common stock or a combination thereof, at Vishay's option, at the conversion rate.  At the direction of its Board of Directors, the Company intends, upon future conversion of any of the convertible senior debentures, to repay the principal amounts of the convertible senior debentures in cash and settle any additional amounts in shares of Vishay common stock.  The Company intends to finance the principal amount of any converted debentures using borrowings under its credit facility. Accordingly, the debt component of the convertible debentures due 2042 remained classified as a non-current liability in the consolidated balance sheets during the period such debentures were convertible.
	Vishay must provide additional shares upon conversion if there is a "fundamental change" in the business as defined in the indenture governing the debentures.
	Vishay may not redeem the debentures prior to the respective call dates.  On or after the call date and prior to the maturity date, Vishay may redeem for cash all or part of the debentures at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the debentures to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, if the last reported sale price of Vishay's common stock has been at least 150% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days during any 30 consecutive trading day period prior to the date on which Vishay provides notice of redemption.
	Note 6 – Long-Term Debt (continued)
	GAAP requires an issuer to separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer's nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest costs are recognized in subsequent periods. The resulting discount on the debt is amortized as non-cash interest expense in future periods.
	The carrying values of the liability and equity components of the convertible debentures are reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as follows:
		Principal amount of the debentures			Unamortized discount			Embedded derivative			Carrying value of liability component			Equity component - net carrying value
	31-Dec-14
	Due 2040	$	275,000			(171,685	)		526		$	103,841		$	110,094
	Due 2041	$	150,000			(97,092	)		341		$	53,249		$	62,246
	Due 2042	$	150,000			(91,048	)		238		$	59,190		$	57,874
	Total	$	575,000		$	(359,825	)	$	1,105		$	216,280		$	230,214
	31-Dec-13
	Due 2040	$	275,000			(173,645	)		491		$	101,846		$	110,094
	Due 2041	$	150,000			(98,085	)		349		$	52,264		$	62,246
	Due 2042	$	150,000			(92,038	)		197		$	58,159		$	57,874
	Total	$	575,000		$	(363,768	)	$	1,037		$	212,269		$	230,214
	Interest is payable on the debentures semi-annually at the cash coupon rate; however, the remaining debt discount is being amortized as additional non-cash interest expense using an effective annual interest rate equal to the Company's estimated nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at the time of issuance. In addition to ordinary interest, contingent interest will accrue in certain circumstances relating to the trading price of the debentures and under certain other circumstances beginning ten years subsequent to issuance.
	Interest expense related to the debentures is reflected on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31:
		Contractual coupon interest			Non-cash amortization of debt discount			Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			Total interest expense related to the debentures
	2014
	Due 2040	$	6,188			1,960			88			35		$	8,271
	Due 2041	$	3,375			993			47			(8	)	$	4,407
	Due 2042	$	3,375			990			54			41		$	4,460
	Total	$	12,938		$	3,943		$	189		$	68		$	17,138
	2013
	Due 2040	$	6,188			1,811			88			(131	)	$	7,956
	Due 2041	$	3,375			915			47			(50	)	$	4,287
	Due 2042	$	3,375			920			54			(85	)	$	4,264
	Total	$	12,938		$	3,646		$	189		$	(266	)	$	16,507
2012
Due 2040	$	6,188			1,675			88			28		$	7,979
Due 2041	$	3,375			843			45			7		$	4,270
Due 2042	$	1,978			510			32			46		$	2,566
Total	$	11,541		$	3,028		$	165		$	81		$	14,815
Note 6 – Long-Term Debt (continued)
Exchangeable Unsecured Notes, due 2102
On December 13, 2002, Vishay issued $105,000 in nominal (or principal) amount of its floating rate unsecured exchangeable notes due 2102 in connection with an acquisition. The notes are governed by a note instrument and a put and call agreement dated December 13, 2002. The notes may be put to Vishay in exchange for shares of its common stock and, under certain circumstances, may be called by Vishay for similar consideration.
Under the terms of the put and call agreement, by reason of the spin-off of VPG on July 6, 2010, Vishay was required to take action so that the existing notes are deemed exchanged as of the date of the spin-off, for a combination of new notes of Vishay reflecting a lower principal amount of the notes and new notes issued by VPG.
Based on the relative trading prices of Vishay and VPG common stock on the ten trading days following the spin-off, Vishay retained the liability for an aggregate $95,042 principal amount of exchangeable notes effective July 6, 2010. The assumption of a portion of the liability by VPG was recorded as a reduction in parent net investment just prior to the completion of the spin-off.
Under the terms of the put and call agreement the holders may at any time put the notes to Vishay in exchange for shares of Vishay's common stock, and Vishay may call the notes in exchange for cash or for shares of its common stock at any time after January 2, 2018. Subsequent to the spin-off of VPG, the put/call rate of the Vishay notes is $15.39 per share of common stock.
The payment of quarterly cash dividends does not result in an adjustment to the put/call rate of the notes (See Note 7).
Effective August 26, 2013, a holder of the notes exercised its option to exchange $56,400 principal amount of the notes for 3,664,729 shares of Vishay common stock.  Following this transaction, Vishay had outstanding exchangeable unsecured notes with a principal amount of $38,642, which are exchangeable for an aggregate of 2,511,742 shares of Vishay common stock.
The notes bear interest at LIBOR. Interest continues to be payable quarterly on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each calendar year.
Other Borrowings Information
Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt, based on the terms stated in the respective agreements, are as follows:
2015	$	-
2016		-
2017		-
2018		200,000
2019		-
Thereafter		613,642
The annual maturities of long-term debt are based on the amount required to settle the obligation. Accordingly, the discounts associated with the convertible debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 are excluded from the calculation of the annual maturities of long-term debt in the table above.
At December 31, 2014, the Company had committed and uncommitted short-term credit lines with various U.S. and foreign banks aggregating approximately $16,700, with substantially no amounts borrowed. At December 31, 2013, the Company had committed and uncommitted short-term credit lines with various U.S. and foreign banks aggregating approximately $27,400, with substantially no amounts borrowed.
Interest paid was $18,394, $17,647, and $16,578 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
See Note 18 for further discussion on the fair value of the Company's long-term debt.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	Note 7 – Stockholders' Equity
	The Company's Class B common stock carries ten votes per share while the common stock carries one vote per share. Class B shares are transferable only to certain permitted transferees while the common stock is freely transferable.  Class B shares are convertible on a one-for-one basis at any time into shares of common stock.  Transfers of Class B shares other than to permitted transferees result in the automatic conversion of the Class B shares into common stock.
	The Board of Directors may only declare dividends or other distributions with respect to the common stock or the Class B common stock if it grants such dividends or distributions in the same amount per share with respect to the other class of stock.  Stock dividends or distributions on any class of stock are payable only in shares of stock of that class.  Shares of either common stock or Class B common stock cannot be split, divided, or combined unless the other is also split, divided, or combined equally.
	At December 31, 2014, the Credit Facility allows the Company to repurchase its common stock or pay cash dividends up to $192,733, conditioned upon the Company maintaining specific pro forma financial ratios and a required minimum amount of available liquidity, as defined in the credit agreement.  The amount and timing of any future stock repurchases remains subject to authorization of the Company's Board of Directors.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company had reserved shares of common stock for future issuance as follows:
	Restricted stock units outstanding	1,147,000
	Phantom stock units outstanding	119,000
	Common stock options outstanding	105,000
	2007 Stock Incentive Program - available to grant	3,693,000
	Exchangeable unsecured notes, due 2102	2,511,742
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2040*	22,685,258
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2041*	9,070,490
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2042*	14,750,865
	Conversion of Class B common stock	12,129,227
		66,211,582
	___________________
	*At December 31, 2014, 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 adequate shares to ensure it could issue the maximum amount of shares to be delivered upon a make-whole fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the debentures.
	Quarterly Cash Dividend Program
	On February 3, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend program. Cash dividends of $0.06 per share of common stock and Class B common stock were paid on March 27, 2014, June 26, 2014, September 18, 2014, and December 16, 2014 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2014, June 12, 2014, August 28, 2014, and November 26, 2014.  The amount and timing of any future dividends will be subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

Other_Income_Expense

Other Income (Expense)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Other Income (Expense)	Note 8 – Other Income (Expense)
	The caption "Other" on the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Foreign exchange gain (loss)	$	(1,115	)	$	(993	)	$	(3,654	)
	Interest income		4,939			4,566			7,626
	Other		(1,335	)		(1,720	)		(532	)
		$	2,489		$	1,853		$	3,440

Other_Accrued_Expenses

Other Accrued Expenses	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Accrued Expenses (Tables) [Abstract]
Other Accrued Expenses	Note 9 – Other Accrued Expenses
	Other accrued expenses consist of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Sales returns and allowances	$	35,203	$	34,465
	Goods received, not yet invoiced		28,645		36,692
	Other		73,728		75,513
		$	137,576	$	146,670

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Note 10 – Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	The cumulative balance of each component of other comprehensive income (loss) and the income tax effects allocated to each component are as follows:
		Pension and			Currency translation adjustment			Unrealized gain (loss) on			Total
		other post-retirement						available-for-sale securities
		actuarial items
	Balance at January 1, 2012	$	(149,197	)	$	152,894		$	81		$	3,778
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(57,072	)		14,567			1,834		$	(40,671	)
	Tax effect		16,626			-			(642	)	$	15,984
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		(40,446	)		14,567			1,192		$	(24,687	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI		16,059			-			-		$	16,059
	Tax effect		(5,372	)		-			-		$	(5,372	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax		10,687			-			-		$	10,687
	Net comprehensive income	$	(29,759	)	$	14,567		$	1,192		$	(14,000	)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	(178,956	)	$	167,461		$	1,273		$	(10,222	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		52,545			23,537			913		$	76,995
	Tax effect		(16,334	)		-			(299	)	$	(16,633	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		36,211			23,537			614		$	60,362
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI		19,112			-			(2,019	)	$	17,093
	Tax effect		(6,285	)		-			686		$	(5,599	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax		12,827			-			(1,333	)	$	11,494
	Net comprehensive income	$	49,038		$	23,537		$	(719	)	$	71,856
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	(129,918	)	$	190,998		$	554		$	61,634
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(60,602	)		(106,295	)		2,175		$	(164,722	)
	Tax effect		18,117			-			(758	)	$	17,359
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax		(42,485	)		(106,295	)		1,417		$	(147,363	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI		25,604			-			(78	)	$	25,526
	Tax effect		(8,961	)		-			24		$	(8,937	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax		16,643			-			(54	)	$	16,589
	Net comprehensive income (loss)	$	(25,842	)	$	(106,295	)	$	1,363		$	(130,774	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(155,760	)	$	84,703		$	1,917		$	(69,140	)
	Reclassifications of pension and other post-retirement actuarial items out of AOCI are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. (See Note 11 for further information). The amount of unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities reclassified out of AOCI as a result of sales of securities held by the Company's rabbi trust used to fund a deferred compensation plan was $24, $1,966, and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.  These reclassifications are recorded as a component of compensation expense within Selling, General, and Administrative expenses on our consolidated condensed statements of operations. The pre-tax amount of unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities reclassified out of AOCI as a result of sales of available-for-sale securities was $54, $53, and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.  These reclassifications are recorded as a component of Other Income on our consolidated condensed statements of operations.  The tax effect of the reclassifications of unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities is recorded as a component of Income Tax Expense on our consolidated condensed statements of operations.
	Other comprehensive income (loss) includes Vishay's proportionate share of other comprehensive income (loss) of nonconsolidated subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method.

Pensions_and_Other_Postretirem

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]
Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits	Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits
	The Company maintains various retirement benefit plans. GAAP requires employers to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan, measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation, in its balance sheet.  The recognition of the funded status on the balance sheet requires employers to recognize actuarial items (such as actuarial gains and losses, prior service costs, and transition obligations) as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax.
	The following table summarizes amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheets associated with these various retirement benefit plans:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Included in "Other assets":
	U.S. pension plans	$	12,964		$	15,708
	Non-U.S. pension plans		212			257
	Total included in other assets	$	13,176		$	15,965
	Included in "Payroll and related expenses":
	U.S. pension plans	$	(51	)	$	(51	)
	Non-U.S. pension plans		(6,624	)		(7,644	)
	U.S. other postretirement plans		(666	)		(638	)
	Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		(349	)		-
	Total included in payroll and related expenses	$	(7,690	)	$	(8,333	)
	Accrued pension and other postretirement costs:
	U.S. pension plans	$	(40,744	)	$	(35,397	)
	Non-U.S. pension plans		(231,278	)		(224,280	)
	U.S. other postretirement plans		(8,011	)		(6,703	)
	Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		(6,934	)		(7,504	)
	Other retirement obligations		(13,557	)		(14,017	)
	Total accrued pension and other postretirement costs	$	(300,524	)	$	(287,901	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
	U.S. pension plans	$	88,474		$	84,384
	Non-U.S. pension plans		88,076			61,652
	U.S. other postretirement plans		(3,325	)		(5,782	)
	Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		1,750			1,246
	Total accumulated other comprehensive loss*	$	174,975		$	141,500
	* - Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss are presented in this table pre-tax.
	Defined Benefit Pension Plans
	U.S. Pension Plans
	The Company maintains several defined benefit pension plans which covered most full-time U.S. employees. These include pension plans which are "qualified" under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and the Internal Revenue Code, and "non-qualified" pension plans which provide defined benefits primarily to U.S. employees whose benefits under the qualified pension plan would be limited by ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.  Pension benefits earned are generally based on years of service and compensation during active employment.
	The Society of Actuaries Retirement Plans Experience Committee issued new mortality tables and a new mortality improvement scale in 2014. The new mortality tables and mortality improvement scale are based on a recent study of mortality experience in the United States, and reflect improved retiree longevity. The use of the new mortality tables and mortality improvement scale increased the Company's projected benefit obligations by approximately $24,000 and will increase future net periodic pension cost.
	Qualified U.S. Pension Plans
	The qualified U.S. pension plans historically included both contributory and non-contributory plans. The Company's principal qualified U.S. pension plan (the Vishay Retirement Plan) was funded through Company and participant contributions to an irrevocable trust fund. The Company's other qualified U.S. pension plans, which were assumed as a result of past acquisitions, were funded only through Company contributions.
	Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
	In 2008, the Company adopted amendments to the Vishay Retirement Plan such that effective January 1, 2009, the plan was frozen. Pursuant to these amendments, no new employees may participate in the plan, no further participant contributions were required or permitted, and no further benefits shall accrue after December 31, 2008. Benefits accumulated as of December 31, 2008 will be paid to employees upon retirement, and the Company will likely need to make additional cash contributions to the plan to fund this accumulated benefit obligation. To mitigate the loss in benefits of these employees, effective January 1, 2009, the Company increased the Company-match portion of its 401(k) defined contribution savings plan for employees impacted by the pension freeze.
	The Company's other qualified U.S. pension plans had all been effectively frozen in prior years.  All of the Company's qualified U.S. pension plans have been merged into the Vishay Retirement Plan.
	During the third fiscal quarter of 2014, the Company executed two partial-settlement transactions to reduce the risk associated with its U.S. qualified pension obligations. These transactions included the purchase of annuity contracts for approximately 700 participants pursuant to an arrangement inherited in a past acquisition and a special limited-time voluntary lump-sum payment offer to certain former employees who were deferred vested participants of the plan not currently receiving periodic payments of their pension benefit. A total of 800 participants accepted the voluntary lump-sum offer. The plan is no longer obligated to pay any benefits to the 1,500 participants covered by these two settlement transactions. These former participants represented approximately 23% of the total participants prior to executing these transactions.
	These transactions were funded entirely with plan assets and resulted in the recognition of non-cash settlement charges aggregating $15,588, representing previously unrecognized actuarial items. These non-cash charges are presented on a separate line in the consolidated statements of operations.
	The Company continues to evaluate options to further reduce the risk associated with its pension obligations.
	Non-qualified U.S. Pension Plans
	The Company's principal non-qualified U.S. pension plan (the Vishay Non-qualified Retirement Plan) was a contributory pension plan designed to provide similar defined benefits to covered U.S. employees whose benefits under the Vishay Retirement Plan would be limited by ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. The Vishay Non-qualified Retirement Plan is identical in construction to the Vishay Retirement Plan, except that the plan is not qualified under ERISA.
	The Vishay Non-qualified Retirement Plan, like all non-qualified plans, is considered to be unfunded. The Company maintains a non-qualified trust, referred to as a "rabbi" trust, to fund benefit payments under this plan. Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees. Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets. Assets held in trust related to the non-qualified pension plan were $21,757 and $18,678 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	In 2008, the Company adopted amendments to the Vishay Non-Qualified Retirement Plan such that effective January 1, 2009, the plan was frozen. Pursuant to these amendments, no new employees may participate in the plans, no further participant contributions were required or permitted, and no further benefits shall accrue after December 31, 2008. Benefits accumulated as of December 31, 2008 will be paid to employees upon retirement, and the Company will likely need to make additional cash contributions to the rabbi trust to fund this accumulated benefit obligation. To mitigate the loss in benefits of these employees, effective January 1, 2009, the Company increased the Company-match portion of its 401(k) defined contribution savings plan for employees impacted by the pension freeze.
	The Company also maintains other pension plans which provide supplemental defined benefits primarily to former U.S. employees whose benefits under qualified pension plans were limited by ERISA. These non-qualified plans are all non-contributory plans, and are considered to be unfunded.
	In 2004, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Felix Zandman, its Executive Chairman and then-Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company is providing an annual retirement benefit of approximately $614 to his surviving spouse. The Company maintains a non-qualified trust, referred to as a "rabbi" trust, to fund benefit payments under this plan. Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees. Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets. Assets held in trust related to this non-qualified pension plan were $3,607 and $4,221 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	In 2010, the Compensation Committee determined to modify Dr. Gerald Paul's and the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors determined to modify Mr. Marc Zandman's employment arrangements such that upon any termination (other than for cause) after attaining age 62, the executive would be entitled to the same payments and benefits he would have received if his respective employment was terminated by Vishay without cause or by the respective executive for good reason. These modifications were included in formal amendments signed on August 8, 2010. The expense associated with the modifications to the employment arrangements of Dr. Gerald Paul and Mr. Marc Zandman effectively represents a defined retirement benefit that will be recognized over the remaining service period of the individuals.
	Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
	Non-U.S. Pension Plans
	The Company provides pension and similar benefits to employees of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries consistent with local practices. Pension benefits earned are generally based on years of service and compensation during active employment.
	The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status related to U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	315,373		$	280,526		$	355,065		$	282,448
	Service cost		-			3,275			-			3,499
	Interest cost		13,821			8,555			13,882			8,150
	Acquisitions		-			465			-			-
	Plan amendments		-			-			-			23
	Actuarial (gains) losses		50,584			40,021			(34,703	)		(5,134	)
	Benefits paid		(18,940	)		(15,888	)		(18,871	)		(13,980	)
	Curtailments and settlements		(59,363	)		(486	)		-			-
Currency translation		-			(29,622	)		-			5,520
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	301,475		$	286,846		$	315,373		$	280,526
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	295,633		$	48,859		$	265,866			46,580
Actual return on plan assets		38,688			1,858			31,018			2,482
Acquisitions		-			10			-			-
Company contributions		17,626			17,015			17,620			14,781
Benefits paid		(18,940	)		(15,888	)		(18,871	)		(13,980	)
Curtailments and settlements		(59,363	)		(486	)		-			-
Currency translation		-			(2,212	)		-			(1,004	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	273,644		$	49,156		$	295,633		$	48,859
Funded status at end of year	$	(27,831	)	$	(237,690	)	$	(19,740	)	$	(231,667	)
The plan assets are stated at fair value. See Note 18 for further discussion of the valuation of the plan assets.
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following:
	31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
	U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
	Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
Other assets	$	12,964		$	212		$	15,708		$	257
Accrued benefit liability - currrent		(51	)		(6,624	)		(51	)		(7,644	)
Accrued benefit liability - non-current		(40,744	)		(231,278	)		(35,397	)		(224,280	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		88,474			88,076			84,384			61,652
	$	60,643		$	(149,614	)	$	64,644		$	(170,015	)
Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
Actuarial items consist of the following:
	31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
	U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
	Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	87,195		$	88,076		$	83,161		$	61,652
Unamortized prior service cost		1,279			-			1,223			-
	$	88,474		$	88,076		$	84,384		$	61,652
The following table sets forth additional information regarding the projected and accumulated benefit obligations:
	31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
	U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
	Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans	$	301,475		$	269,069		$	315,373		$	260,558
Plans for which the accumulated benefit
obligation exceeds plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	$	40,795		$	272,977		$	35,448		$	251,569
Accumulated benefit obligation		40,795			261,996			35,448			238,419
Fair value of plan assets		-			37,634			-			21,356
The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost:
	Years ended December 31,
	2014						2013						2012
	U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
	Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
Service cost net of employee contributions	$	-		$	3,275		$	-		$	3,499		$	-		$	3,247
Interest cost		13,821			8,555			13,882			8,150			15,699			9,374
Expected return on plan assets		(14,892	)		(2,109	)		(19,124	)		(2,084	)		(18,972	)		(1,667	)
Amortization of actuarial losses		7,166			2,700			14,566			3,407			12,960			1,681
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(56	)		(5	)		978			(12	)		2,200			60
Curtailment and settlement losses		15,588			1,137			-			959			-			-
Net periodic pension cost	$	21,627		$	13,553		$	10,302		$	13,919		$	11,887		$	12,695
Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
See Note 10 for the pretax, tax effect and after tax amounts included in other comprehensive income during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012.  The estimated actuarial items for the defined benefit pensions plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost during 2014 is $13,700.
The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years:
	2014						2013
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Discount rate		4	%		2.15	%		5	%		3.11	%
Rate of compensation increase		0	%		1.97	%		0	%		1.99	%
The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic pension costs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
	Years ended December 31,
	2014						2013
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S.			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
				Plans
Discount rate		4.85	%		3.11	%		4	%		3.04	%
Rate of compensation increase		0	%		1.99	%		0	%		1.48	%
Expected return on plan assets		5.29	%		3.85	%		7.25	%		4.44	%
The plans' expected return on assets is based on management's expectations of long-term average rates of return to be achieved by the underlying investment portfolios. In establishing this assumption, management considers historical and expected returns for the asset classes in which the plans are invested, advice from pension consultants and investment advisors, and current economic and capital market conditions.
The qualified U.S. pension plan was remeasured during 2014 concurrent with the two partial settlement transactions.
The investment mix between equity securities and fixed income securities is based upon achieving a desired return, balancing higher return, more volatile equity securities, and lower return, less volatile fixed income securities. The Company's U.S. defined benefit plans are invested in diversified portfolios of public-market equity and fixed income securities. Investment allocations are made across a range of markets, industry sectors, capitalization sizes, and, in the case of fixed income securities, maturities and credit quality.  The target allocation is adjusted based on the funded status of the plan and the duration of the obligation.  Based on market interest rate conditions and the current market value of the plan assets at December 31, 2014, the qualified defined benefit plan in the U.S. is fully-funded.  Accordingly, the target asset allocation strategy for this plan is approximately 10% of the assets invested in equity securities and 90% invested in fixed income securities. The Company is evaluating options to further reduce the risk associated with its pension obligations. The Company's non-U.S. defined benefit plan investments are based on local laws and customs. Most plans invest in cash and local government fixed income securities, although plans in certain countries have investments in equity securities.  The plans do not invest in securities of Vishay or its subsidiaries. Negative investment returns could ultimately affect the funded status of the plans, requiring additional cash contributions. See Note 18 for further information on the fair value of the plan assets by asset category.
Estimated future benefit payments are as follows:
	U.S.			Non-U.S.
	Plans			Plans
2015	$	15,691		$	14,140
2016		16,037			14,230
2017		16,420			16,247
2018		23,084			14,968
2019		18,683			16,036
2020-2024		91,834			80,418
The Company anticipates making contributions to U.S. defined benefit pension plans of between $15,000 and $20,000 in 2015.
The Company's anticipated 2015 contributions for non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans will approximate the expected benefit payments disclosed above.
Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
Other Postretirement Benefits
In the U.S., the Company maintains unfunded non-pension postretirement plans, including medical benefits for certain executives and their surviving spouses, which are funded as costs are incurred. One of these plans was amended effective January 1, 2012, which reduced the benefit obligations of the Company. The Company also maintains two unfunded non-pension postretirement plans at two European subsidiaries.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and accrued benefit cost related to U.S. and non-U.S. non-pension defined benefit postretirement plans:
	31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
	U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans
	Plans						Plans
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	7,341		$	7,504		$	8,157		$	6,964
Service cost		115			307			111			299
Interest cost		351			244			314			257
Plan amendments		-			-			-			-
Actuarial (gains) losses		1,492			752			(639	)		398
Benefits paid		(622	)		(565	)		(602	)		(740	)
Currency translation		-			(959	)		-			326
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	8,677		$	7,283		$	7,341		$	7,504
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-
Funded status at end of year	$	(8,677	)	$	(7,283	)	$	(7,341	)	$	(7,504	)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following:
	31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
	U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S.			Non-U.S.
	Plans						Plans			Plans
Accrued benefit liability - current	$	(666	)	$	(349	)	$	(638	)	$	-
Accrued benefit liability - non-current		(8,011	)		(6,934	)		(6,703	)		(7,504	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		(3,325	)		1,750			(5,782	)		1,246
	$	(12,002	)	$	(5,533	)	$	(13,123	)	$	(6,258	)
Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
Actuarial items consist of the following:
	31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
	U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans
	Plans						Plans
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)	$	(668	)	$	1,750		$	(2,301	)	$	1,246
Unamortized prior service (credit) cost		(2,657	)		-			(3,481	)		-
	$	(3,325	)	$	1,750		$	(5,782	)	$	1,246
The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost:
	Years ended December 31,
	2014						2013						2012
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Service cost	$	115		$	307		$	111		$	299		$	106		$	253
Interest cost		351			244			314			257			366			286
Amortization of actuarial (gains) losses		(140	)		38			4			8			(76	)		-
Amortization of prior service credit		(824	)		-			(798	)		-			(798	)		-
Amortization of transition obligation		-			-			-			-			32			-
Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	(498	)	$	589		$	(369	)	$	564		$	(370	)	$	539
The estimated actuarial items for the other postretirement benefit plans that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during 2014 are not material and approximate the amounts amortized in 2013.
The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years:
	2014						2013
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
Discount rate		4	%		2.25	%		5	%		3.44	%
Rate of compensation increase		0	%		2.87	%		0	%		3.19	%
The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
	Years ended December 31,
	2014						2013
	U.S. Plans			Non-U.S.			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
				Plans
Discount rate		5	%		3.44	%		4	%		3.8	%
Rate of compensation increase		0	%		3.19	%		0	%		3.2	%
The impact of a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on the net periodic benefit cost and postretirement benefit obligation is not material.
Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
Estimated future benefit payments are as follows:
	U.S.			Non-U.S.
	Plans			Plans
2015	$	666		$	349
2016		706			235
2017		722			348
2018		712			356
2019		695			544
2020-2024		3,088			3,136
As the plans are unfunded, the Company's anticipated contributions for 2015 are equal to its estimated benefits payments.
Other Retirement Obligations
The Company participates in various other defined contribution and government-mandated retirement plans based on local law or custom.  The Company periodically makes required contributions for certain of these plans, whereas other plans are unfunded retirement bonus plans which will be paid at the employee's retirement date.  At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the consolidated balance sheets include $13,557 and $14,017, respectively, within accrued pension and other postretirement costs related to these plans.
Many of the Company's U.S. employees are eligible to participate in 401(k) savings plans, some of which provide for Company matching under various formulas. The Company's matching expense for the plans was $5,285, $5,276, and $4,230 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. No material amounts are included in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013 related to unfunded 401(k) contributions.
Certain key employees participate in a deferred compensation plan. During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, these employees could defer a portion of their compensation until retirement, or elect shorter deferral periods. The Company maintains a liability within other noncurrent liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets related to these deferrals. The Company maintains a non-qualified trust, referred to as a "rabbi" trust, to fund payments under this plan. Rabbi trust assets are subject to creditor claims under certain conditions and are not the property of employees. Therefore, they are accounted for as other noncurrent assets. Assets held in trust related to the deferred compensation plan at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were approximately $14,906 and $14,093, respectively.

ShareBased_Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company has various stockholder-approved programs which allow for the grant of share-based compensation to officers, employees, and non-employee directors.
	The amount of compensation cost related to stock-based payment transactions is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company determines compensation cost for restricted stock units ("RSUs"), phantom stock units, and restricted stock based on the grant-date fair value of the underlying common stock adjusted for expected dividends paid over the required vesting period for non-participating awards.  Compensation cost is recognized over the period that an officer, employee, or non-employee director provides service in exchange for the award.
	The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense recognized:
			Years ended December 31,
			2014				2013			2012
	Restricted stock units		$	2,261			$	510		$	3,378
	Stock options			-				18			73
	Phantom stock units			131				108			93
	Total		$	2,392			$	636		$	3,544
	The Company recognizes compensation cost for RSUs that are expected to vest and records cumulative adjustments in the period that the expectation changes. Stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2013, as presented in the table above, includes the material reversal of stock-based compensation expense recognized for the performance-based RSUs scheduled to vest on January 1, 2014 recorded in the second fiscal quarter of 2013. $1,778 of these reversed costs had been originally reported as a separate line item upon cessation of employment of certain former executives in 2011, and accordingly, this adjustment is also reported as a separate line item in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  A portion of the stock-based compensation expense related to certain current executives that was reversed in the second fiscal quarter of 2013 was recognized in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2013 due to certain amendments to the performance-based RSUs granted to certain current executives in 2011 approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Director's in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2013.  Pursuant to their original terms, the performance-based RSUs would have vested on January 1, 2014 only if all of the associated performance criteria were met for the three-year period ending December 31, 2013.  Pursuant to the amended terms, 75% of the performance-based RSUs of each of the certain current executives vested effective December 5, 2013 in light of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Director's assessment that the performance criteria would be achieved in substantial part by December 31, 2013.
	The following table summarizes unrecognized compensation cost and the weighted average remaining amortization periods at December 31, 2014 (amortization periods in years):
			Unrecognized Compensation Cost				Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Periods
	Stock options		$	-				0
	Restricted stock units			10,118				0.9
	Phantom stock units			-				0
	Total		$	10,118
	Unrecognized compensation cost presented in the table above includes $6,485 of unrecognized compensation cost for performance-based RSUs that are not currently expected to vest and for which no compensation cost is currently being recognized.
	Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
	2007 Stock Incentive Program
	The Company's 2007 Stock Incentive Program (the "2007 Program"), as amended and restated, was approved by Vishay's stockholders at Vishay's Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 20, 2014. The 2007 Program permits the grant of up to 6,500,000 shares of restricted stock, unrestricted stock, RSUs, stock options, and phantom stock units, to officers, employees, and non-employee directors of the Company. Such instruments are available for grant until May 20, 2024.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company has reserved 3,693,000 shares of common stock for future grants of equity awards pursuant to the 2007 Program. If any outstanding awards are forfeited by the holder or cancelled by the Company, the underlying shares would be available for regrant to others.
	Restricted Stock Units
	Each RSU entitles the recipient to receive a share of common stock when the RSU vests.
	RSU activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 is presented below (number of RSUs in thousands):
			Years ended December 31,
			2014							2013					2012
			Number of RSUs				Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value			Number of			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value		Number of			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value
										RSUs					RSUs
	Outstanding:
	Beginning of year			1,059			$	13.4			1,316		$	12.53		891		$	12.58
	Granted			336				13.48			374			12.76		437			12.31
	Vested*			(146	)			15.87			(598	)		10.92		(12	)		8.29
	Cancelled or forfeited			(102	)			17.45			(33	)		16.54		-			-
	End of year			1,147			$	12.75			1,059		$	13.4		1,316		$	12.53
	Expected to vest			649							570					1,040
	* The number of RSUs vested includes shares that the Company withheld on behalf of employees to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements.
	The number of performance-based RSUs scheduled to vest on January 1, 2015 is fixed based on the full achievement of the defined target performance criteria. The number of performance-based RSUs scheduled to vest on January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017 increases ratably based on the achievement of defined performance criteria between the established target and maximum levels.  RSUs with performance-based vesting criteria are expected to vest as follows (number of RSUs in thousands):
	Vesting Date		Expected to Vest				Not Expected to Vest			Total
	January 1, 2015**			-				276			276
	1-Jan-16			-				222			222
	1-Jan-17			192				-			192
	** The performance vesting criteria for the performance-based RSUs with a vesting date of January 1, 2015 were not achieved.
	In the event of (i) the termination of the executive's employment by the Company without cause, by the executive for "good reason," or as a result of death or disability, the executive's outstanding RSUs shall immediately vest and the outstanding performance-based RSUs shall vest on their normal vesting date to the extent applicable performance criteria are realized; and (ii) a change of control of Vishay, all of such executive's outstanding RSUs and performance-based RSUs shall immediately vest.  In the event of voluntary termination by the executive (without "good reason") or termination for cause, the executive's outstanding RSUs and performance-based RSUs will be forfeited.
	Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
	Phantom Stock Units
	The 2007 Program authorizes the grant of phantom stock units to the extent provided for in the Company's employment agreements with certain executives. Each phantom stock unit entitles the recipient to receive a share of common stock at the individual's termination of employment or any other future date specified in the applicable employment agreement. Phantom stock units participate in dividend distribution on the same basis as the Company's common stock and Class B common stock. Dividend equivalents are issued in the form of additional units of phantom stock. The phantom stock units are fully vested at all times.
	The following table summarizes the Company's phantom stock units activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 (number of phantom stock units in thousands):
			Years ended December 31,
			2014							2013					2012
			Number				Grant-			Number			Grant-		Number			Grant-
			of				date			of			date		of			date
			Phantom				Fair Value per Unit			Phantom			Fair Value per Unit		Phantom			Fair Value per Unit
			Stock Units							Stock Units					Stock Units
	Outstanding:
	Beginning of year			107							97					87
	Granted			10			$	13.12			10		$	10.75		10		$	9.33
	Dividend equivalents issued			2							-					-
	Redeemed for common stock			-							-					-
	End of year			119							107					97
	Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
	Stock Options
	In addition to stock options outstanding pursuant to the 2007 Program, during the periods presented, the Company had stock options outstanding under previous stockholder-approved stock option programs.
	Under the 1998 Stock Option Program, certain executive officers and key employees were granted options. On March 16, 2008, the stockholder approval for the 1998 Stock Option Program expired. While no additional options may be granted pursuant to this plan, at December 31, 2014, 95,000 options issued under the 1998 Program remain outstanding and may be exercised in future periods.
The following table summarizes the Company's stock option activity (number of options in thousands):
		Years ended December 31,
		2014							2013					2012
		Number of Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price			Number of Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number of Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding:
Beginning of year			109			$	15.24			109		$	15.24		384		$	15.4
Granted			-				-			-			-		-			-
Exercised			(4	)			11.62			-			-		(22	)		7.89
Cancelled or forfeited			-				-			-			-		(253	)		16.12
End of year			105			$	15.38			109		$	15.24		109		$	15.24
Vested and expected to vest			105							109					109
Exercisable:
End of year			105							109					79
The following table summarizes information concerning stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2014 (number of options in thousands, contractual life in years):
Options Outstanding & Exercisable
Exercise Price				Number of Options			Remaining
							Contractual Life
$	12.9				28			2.16
	16.29				77			2.39
$	15.38				105			2.33
The weighted-average remaining contractual life of all exercisable options is 2.33 years.
Note 12 – Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  There were no options granted in 2014, 2013, or 2012.
The pretax aggregate intrinsic value (the difference between the closing stock price on the last trading day of 2014 of $14.15 per share and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2014 is $35.  This amount changes based on changes in the market value of the Company's common stock.  During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2012, 4,337 options and 22,095 options, respectively, were exercised.  No options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2013.  The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2012 was $18 and $110, respectively.
The following table summarizes information concerning unvested stock options (number of options in thousands):
		Years ended December 31,
		2014							2013					2012
		Number of Options				Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value			Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value		Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value
Unvested:
Beginning of year			-			$	-			30		$	10.14		61		$	9.96
Granted			-				-			-			-		-			-
Vested			-				-			(30	)		10.14		(31	)		9.79
End of year			-			$	-			-		$	-		30		$	10.14

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies
	Leases
	The Company uses various leased facilities and equipment in its operations. In the normal course of business, operating leases are generally renewed or replaced by other leases. Certain operating leases include escalation clauses.
	Total rental expense under operating leases was $28,088, $29,327, and $29,667 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
	Future minimum lease payments for operating leases with initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows:
	2015	$	25,921
	2016		17,931
	2017		13,025
	2018		2,477
	2019		1,708
	Thereafter		1,574
	Environmental Matters
	The Company is subject to various federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations governing environmental matters, including the use, discharge, and disposal of hazardous materials. The Company's manufacturing facilities are believed to be in substantial compliance with current laws and regulations. Complying with current laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition.
	The Company has engaged environmental consultants and attorneys to assist management in evaluating potential liabilities related to environmental matters. Management assesses the input from these consultants along with other information known to the Company in its effort to continually monitor these potential liabilities. Management assesses its environmental exposure on a site-by-site basis, including those sites where the Company has been named as a "potentially responsible party." Such assessments include the Company's share of remediation costs, information known to the Company concerning the size of the hazardous waste sites, their years of operation, and the number of past users and their financial viability.
	The Company has accrued environmental liabilities of $11,975 as of December 31, 2014 relating to environmental matters related to its General Semiconductor subsidiary. The Company has also accrued approximately $7,972 at December 31, 2014 for other environmental matters. The liabilities recorded for these matters total $19,947, of which $10,613 is included in other accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, and $9,334 is included in other noncurrent liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.
	While the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined, management does not believe that the final disposition of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows beyond the amounts previously provided for in the consolidated financial statements. The Company's present and past facilities have been in operation for many years. These facilities have used substances and have generated and disposed of wastes which are or might be considered hazardous. Therefore, it is possible that additional environmental issues may arise in the future, which the Company cannot now predict.
	Litigation
	The Company is a party to various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. The Company is of the opinion that these litigations or claims will not have a material negative effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
	Semiconductor Foundry Agreements
	The Company's Siliconix subsidiary maintains long-term foundry agreements with subcontractors to ensure access to external front-end capacity.
	Since 2004, Siliconix has maintained a definitive long-term foundry agreement for semiconductor manufacturing with Tower Semiconductor, pursuant to which Siliconix transferred certain technology to Tower Semiconductor and committed to purchase a minimum amount of semiconductor wafers. The Company typically has minimum purchase commitments of $30,000 to $40,000 per year pursuant to its long-term foundry agreements.  At December 31, 2014, the extent of those commitments is under discussion with Tower Semiconductor, following the transfer of certain manufacturing processes among Tower Semiconductor's facilities.
	Note 13 – Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
	Product Quality Claims
	The Company is a party to various product quality claims in the normal course of business. The Company provides warranties for its products which offer replacement of defective products. Annual warranty expenses are generally not significant. The Company periodically receives claims which arise from consequential damages which result from a customer's installation of an alleged defective Vishay component into the customer's product. Although not covered by its stated warranty, Vishay may occasionally reimburse the customer for these consequential damages in limited circumstances.
	Executive Employment Agreements
	The Company has employment agreements with certain of its senior executives. These employment agreements provide incremental compensation in the event of termination. The Company does not provide any severance or other benefits specifically upon a change in control.
	On May 13, 2009, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Dr. Felix Zandman (the "2009 Agreement"). This agreement amended and restated the employment agreement between the Company and Dr. Zandman that was previously amended and restated as of January 1, 2004 (the "2004 Agreement").
	The purpose of the 2009 Agreement was to eliminate the right of Dr. Zandman to receive a royalty during the ten years following his termination of employment equal to 5% of gross sales, less returns and allowances, of Vishay products incorporating inventions and any other form of technology created, discovered or developed by him or under his direction.  The royalty was payable in the event Dr. Zandman was terminated without "cause" or resigned for "good reason," as defined in the 2004 Agreement. This provision was carried over from Dr. Zandman's original employment agreement of March 1985, and could not be modified or eliminated without Dr. Zandman's consent. It was a reflection, among other things, of Dr. Zandman's key role in the founding of the Company and in creating, developing and commercializing the Company's technologies and the absence of any compensation to Dr. Zandman for the core intellectual property that he contributed to the Company over the years from its inception.
	The Company engaged a consultant in 2007 to assist its evaluation of the royalties to which Dr. Zandman would be entitled were his employment to be terminated. Based in part upon the work of this consultant and management's own updated computations, management estimated that the present value of the royalties to which Dr. Zandman would be entitled were his employment terminated at December 31, 2008 would have been between approximately $370,000 and $445,000, with a possible tax gross-up if the royalties were payable in connection with a change of control and deemed subject to an excise tax. (This present value does not factor in any assessment of the probability of payment.)
	Pursuant to the 2009 Agreement, Dr. Zandman's right to the royalty payments was terminated. Dr. Zandman received a payment of $10,000 as of the effective date of the amended and restated agreement, and he or his estate was entitled to receive annual payments of $10,000 each through 2014.  Dr. Zandman's passing in June 2011 had no effect on the timing of these payments.  The Company recognized the compensation expense equal to the present value of these payments in 2009.  The Company recognized no tax benefit associated with the executive employment agreement charge.  The last annual payment was made in 2014.
	The Company recognized executive compensation charges for the year ended December 31, 2011 for other elements of compensation that accelerated upon the passing of Dr. Zandman and for elements of compensation payable to the Company's former Chief Financial Officer, in connection with his resignation.
	The Company recognized a credit of $1,778 reported as the executive compensation credit in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 for the reversal of stock-based compensation expense previously recorded for the performance-based RSUs scheduled to vest to Dr. Zandman's estate and the Company's former Chief Financial Officer on January 1, 2014 at the time it was determined that achievement of the performance-based vesting criteria was no longer probable.

Current_Vulnerability_Due_to_C

Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations Abstract
Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations	Note 14 – Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations
	Market Concentrations
	While no single customer comprises greater than 10% of net revenues, a material portion of the Company's revenues are derived from the worldwide industrial, automotive, telecommunications, and computing markets. These markets have historically experienced wide variations in demand for end products. If demand for these end products should decrease, the producers thereof could reduce their purchases of the Company's products, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial position.
	Credit Risk Concentrations
	Financial instruments with potential credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, and notes receivable. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables are generally limited due to the Company's large number of customers and their dispersion across many countries and industries. As of December 31, 2014, one customer comprised 14.7% of the Company's accounts receivable balance.  This customer comprised 13.9% of the Company's accounts receivable balance as of December 31, 2013.  No other customer comprised greater than 10% of the Company's accounts receivable balance as of December 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013. The Company continually monitors the credit risks associated with its accounts receivable and adjusts the allowance for uncollectible accounts accordingly. The credit risk exposure associated with the accounts receivable is limited by the allowance and is not considered material to the financial statements.
	The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments with various major financial institutions. The Company is exposed to credit risk related to the potential inability to access liquidity in financial institutions where its cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are concentrated. As of December 31, 2014, the following financial institutions held over 10% of the Company's combined cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balance:
	Deutsche Bank	12.6	%
	Bank Hapoalim*	12.4	%
	HSBC*	12.3	%
	Bank Leumi*	10.3	%
	___________________________________________________
	*Participant in Credit Facility
	Sources of Supplies
	Many of the Company's products require the use of raw materials that are produced in only a limited number of regions around the world or are available from only a limited number of suppliers. The Company's consolidated results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if there are significant price increases for these raw materials, the Company has difficulty obtaining these raw materials, or the quality of available raw materials deteriorates. For periods in which the prices of these raw materials are rising, the Company may be unable to pass on the increased cost to the Company's customers, which would result in decreased margins for the products in which they are used. For periods in which the prices are declining, the Company may be required to write down its inventory carrying cost of these raw materials which, depending on the extent of the difference between market price and its carrying cost, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's net earnings.
	Vishay is a major consumer of the world's annual production of tantalum. Tantalum, a metal purchased in powder or wire form, is the principal material used in the manufacture of tantalum capacitors. There are few suppliers that process tantalum ore into capacitor grade tantalum powder.
	From time to time, there have been short-term market shortages of raw materials utilized by the Company. While these shortages have not historically adversely affected the Company's ability to increase production of products containing these raw materials, they have historically resulted in higher raw material costs for the Company. The Company cannot assure that any of these market shortages in the future would not adversely affect the Company's ability to increase production, particularly during periods of growing demand for the Company's products.
	Note 14 – Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations (continued)
	Certain raw materials used in the manufacture of the Company's products, such as gold, copper, palladium, and other metals, are traded on active markets and can be subject to significant price volatility. To ensure adequate supply and to provide cost certainty, the Company's policy is to enter into short-term commitments to purchase defined portions of annual consumption of the raw materials utilized by the Company if market prices decline below budget.  If after entering into these commitments, the market prices for these raw materials decline, the Company must recognize losses on these adverse purchase commitments.
	Recently enacted rules in the U.S. on conflict minerals, which include tantalum, tungsten, tin, and gold, all of which are used in the Company's products, could result in increased prices and decreased supply of conflict minerals, which could negatively affect the Company's consolidated results of operations.
	Geographic Concentration
	The Company has operations outside the United States, and approximately 76% of revenues earned during 2014 were derived from sales to customers outside the United States. Additionally, as of December 31, 2014, $1,100,025 of the Company's cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were held in countries outside of the United States. Some of the Company's products are produced and cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are held in countries which are subject to risks of political, economic, and military instability. This instability could result in wars, riots, nationalization of industry, currency fluctuations, and labor unrest. These conditions could have an adverse impact on the Company's ability to operate in these regions and, depending on the extent and severity of these conditions, could materially and adversely affect the Company's overall financial condition, operating results, and ability to access its liquidity when needed. As of December 31, 2014 the Company's cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were concentrated in the following countries:
	Germany	41	%
	Israel	26.6	%
	The Republic of China (Taiwan)	9.7	%
	People's Republic of China	8.6	%
	Singapore	7.3	%
	Canada	1.8	%
	United States	1.1	%
	Other Asia	1.6	%
	Other Europe	1.4	%
	Other	0.9	%
	Vishay has been in operation in Israel for 44 years. The Company has never experienced any material interruption in its operations attributable to these factors, in spite of several Middle East crises, including wars.

Segment_and_Geographic_Data

Segment and Geographic Data	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment and Geographic Data [Abstract]
Segment and Geographic Data	Note 15 –Segment and Geographic Data
	Vishay operates, and its chief operating decision maker makes strategic and operating decisions with regards to assessing performance and allocating resources based on, five reporting segments: MOSFETs, Diodes, Optoelectronic Components, Resistors & Inductors, and Capacitors.
	The Company evaluates business segment performance on operating income, exclusive of certain items ("segment operating income"). Only dedicated, direct selling, general, and administrative expenses of the segments are included in the calculation of segment operating income. The Company's calculation of segment operating income excludes such selling, general, and administrative costs as global operations, sales and marketing, information systems, finance and administration groups, as well as restructuring and severance costs, executive compensation charges (credits), material gains or losses on sales of property, and other items. Management believes that evaluating segment performance excluding such items is meaningful because it provides insight with respect to intrinsic operating results of the Company. These items represent reconciling items between segment operating income and consolidated operating income. Business segment assets are the owned or allocated assets used by each business.
	The Company has also disclosed certain additional items not used to evaluate segment performance. In some cases, the items are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and are required to be disclosed by GAAP. Additionally, the additional segment disclosures may provide insight to the Company's future profitability by reportable segment.
	Note 15 –Segment and Geographic Data (continued)
	The following tables set forth business segment information:
		MOSFETs			Diodes			Optoelectronic			Resistors & Inductors		Capacitors		Corporate / Other		Total
								Components
	Year ended December 31, 2014:
	Product sales	$	470,377		$	579,288		$	258,248		$	755,251	$	425,593	$	-	$	2,488,757
	Royalty revenues		160			-			-			4,365		-		-	$	4,525
	Total revenue	$	470,537		$	579,288		$	258,248		$	759,616	$	425,593	$	-	$	2,493,282
	Gross Margin	$	59,614		$	132,021		$	91,165		$	241,090	$	87,402	$	-	$	611,292
	Depreciation expense	$	53,939		$	39,592		$	13,266		$	32,380	$	20,524	$	1,103	$	160,804
	Interest expense (income)		-			21			41			119		18		24,258	$	24,457
	Capital expenditures		33,672			41,713			23,008			42,950		12,694		2,937	$	156,974
	Total Assets as of December 31, 2014:	$	499,550		$	732,502		$	422,257		$	812,664	$	605,281	$	226,519	$	3,298,773
	Year ended December 31, 2013:
	Product sales	$	449,299		$	547,264		$	228,194		$	700,115	$	439,745	$	-	$	2,364,617
	Royalty revenues		178			-			51			6,133		-		-	$	6,362
	Total revenue	$	449,477		$	547,264		$	228,245		$	706,248	$	439,745	$	-	$	2,370,979
	Gross Margin	$	59,387		$	121,231		$	76,732		$	221,851	$	88,059	$	-	$	567,260
	Depreciation expense	$	50,606		$	37,305		$	12,484		$	31,998	$	21,596	$	1,075	$	155,064
	Interest expense (income)		-			54			122			79		28		22,847	$	23,130
	Capital expenditures		41,869			44,431			18,310			32,515		13,052		2,900	$	153,077
	Total Assets as of December 31, 2013:	$	543,037		$	788,121		$	213,128		$	843,685	$	636,637	$	212,531	$	3,237,139
	Year ended December 31, 2012:
	Product sales	$	433,436		$	496,744		$	209,141		$	635,488	$	448,157	$	-	$	2,222,966
	Royalty revenues		246			-			53			6,832		-		-	$	7,131
	Total revenue	$	433,682		$	496,744		$	209,194		$	642,320	$	448,157	$	-	$	2,230,097
	Gross Margin	$	56,694		$	99,116		$	67,943		$	204,137	$	98,783	$	-	$	526,673
	Depreciation expense	$	49,124		$	36,335		$	11,917		$	31,921	$	23,354	$	1,150	$	153,801
	Interest expense (income)		-			64			140			543		52		21,805	$	22,604
	Capital expenditures		49,201			30,025			16,759			35,878		15,531		2,897	$	150,291
	Total Assets as of December 31, 2012:	$	625,597		$	670,811		$	199,385		$	760,257	$	587,586	$	172,641	$	3,016,277
	Note 15 –Segment and Geographic Data (continued)
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Operating margin reconciliation:
	MOSFETs	$	21,095		$	19,140		$	17,198
	Diodes		106,068			96,581			75,733
	Optoelectronic Components		73,463			62,259			54,632
	Resistors & Inductors		203,343			186,583			172,129
	Capacitors		62,460			64,494			76,858
	Restructuring and Severance Costs		(20,897	)		(2,814	)		-
	U.S. Pension Settlement Charges		(15,588	)		-			-
	Gain on Sale of Property		-			-			12,153
	Executive Compensation Credit (Charges)		-			1,778			-
	Unallocated Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses		(240,833	)		(230,339	)		(219,502	)
	Consolidated Operating Income (Loss)	$	189,111		$	197,682		$	189,201
	See Note 4 for restructuring and severance costs segment information.
	The following table summarizes net revenues based on revenues generated by subsidiaries located within the identified geographic area:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	United States	$	590,145		$	591,082		$	568,849
	Germany		821,005			800,733			775,204
	Other Europe		107,598			89,348			61,236
	Israel		13,871			13,319			14,708
	Asia		960,663			876,497			810,100
		$	2,493,282		$	2,370,979		$	2,230,097
	The following table summarizes property and equipment based on physical location:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	United States	$	116,807		$	123,812
Germany		124,850			130,854
Czech Republic		38,914			47,002
Other Europe		94,377			107,381
Israel		121,691			138,741
People's Republic of China		176,671			172,274
Republic of China (Taiwan)		127,354			120,368
Other Asia		95,263			84,388
Other		2,168			1,799
	$	898,095		$	926,619

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Note 16 – Earnings Per Share
	Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted to include the potentially dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock units (see Note 12), convertible debt instruments (see Note 6), and other potentially dilutive securities.
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (shares in thousands):
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Numerator for basic earnings per share:
	Net earnings	$	117,629	$	122,980	$	122,738
	Adjustment to the numerator for continuing operations and net earnings:
	Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive convertible and exchangeable notes, net of tax		59		140		293
	Numerator for diluted earnings per share:
	Net earnings	$	117,688	$	123,120	$	123,031
	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic earnings per share:
	Weighted average shares		147,448		144,856		149,020
	Outstanding phantom stock units		119		107		97
	Adjusted weighted average shares		147,567		144,963		149,117
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments		5,890		6,130		6,176
	Restricted stock units		252		320		549
	Other		7		4		2
	Dilutive potential common shares		6,149		6,454		6,727
	Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
	Adjusted weighted average shares		153,716		151,417		155,844
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.8	$	0.85	$	0.82
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.77	$	0.81	$	0.79
	Note 16 – Earnings Per Share (continued)
	Diluted earnings per share for the years presented do not reflect the following weighted average potential common shares, as the effect would be antidilutive (in thousands):
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Convertible and exchangeable notes:
	Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2040		-		19,809		19,809
	Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2041		7,944		7,885		7,885
	Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2042		-		-		7,434
	Weighted average employee stock options		77		91		177
	Weighted average warrants		-		-		8,390
	Weighted average other		135		385		282
	In periods in which they are dilutive, if the potential common shares related to the exchangeable notes are included in the computation, the related interest savings, net of tax, assuming conversion/exchange is added to the net earnings used to compute earnings per share.
	The Company's convertible debt instruments are only convertible upon the occurrence of certain events.  The convertible debentures due 2042 were convertible subsequent to the September 27, 2014 evaluation of the conversion criteria until subsequent to the December 31, 2014 evaluation of the conversion criteria.  In periods that the debentures are not convertible, the certain conditions which could trigger conversion of the remaining debentures have been deemed to be non-substantive, and accordingly, the Company has always assumed the conversion of these instruments in its diluted earnings per share computation during periods in which they are dilutive.
	At the direction of its Board of Directors, the Company intends, upon conversion, to repay the principal amounts of the convertible senior debentures, due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042, in cash and settle any additional amounts in shares of Vishay common stock. Accordingly, the debentures are included in the diluted earnings per share computation using the "treasury stock method" (similar to options and warrants) rather than the "if converted method" otherwise required for convertible debt. Under the "treasury stock method," Vishay calculates the number of shares issuable under the terms of the debentures based on the average market price of Vishay common stock during the period, and that number is included in the total diluted shares figure for the period.  If the average market price is less than $13.66, no shares are included in the diluted earnings per share computation for the convertible senior debentures due 2040, if the average market price is less than $18.72, no shares are included in the diluted earnings per share computation for the convertible senior debentures due 2041, and if the average market price is less than $11.62, no shares are included in the diluted earnings per share computation for the convertible senior debentures due 2042.

Additional_Cash_Flow_Informati

Additional Cash Flow Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Additional Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Additional Cash Flow Information	Note 17 – Additional Cash Flow Information
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Accounts receivable	$	(731	)	$	(16,870	)	$	33,004
	Inventories		(23,753	)		(31,246	)		(186	)
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(5,031	)		19,160			2,977
	Accounts payable		9,339			11,087			(9,408	)
	Other current liabilities		(18,064	)		7,860			(31,539	)
	Net change in operating assets and liabilities	$	(38,240	)	$	(10,009	)	$	(5,152	)

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Note 18 – Fair Value Measurements
	The fair value measurement accounting guidance establishes a valuation hierarchy of the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:
	Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
	Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company's own assumptions.
	An asset or liability's classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
	The following table provides the financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Total Fair Value			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	31-Dec-14
	Assets:
	Assets held in rabbi trusts	$	40,270		$	26,853	$	13,417	$	-
	Available for sale securities	$	15,432			4,439		10,993		-
	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	26,601			26,601		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	244,037			242,749		1,288		-
	Cash	$	3,006			3,006		-		-
	Non - U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	9,268			9,268		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	18,269			18,269		-		-
	Cash	$	21,619			21,619		-		-
		$	378,502		$	352,804	$	25,698	$	-
	Liabilities:
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2040	$	(526	)		-		-		(526	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2041	$	(341	)		-		-		(341	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2042	$	(238	)		-		-		(238	)
		$	(1,105	)	$	-	$	-	$	(1,105	)
	31-Dec-13
	Assets:
	Assets held in rabbi trusts	$	36,992		$	24,064	$	12,928	$	-
	Available for sale securities	$	7,356			7,356		-		-
	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	51,666			51,666		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	241,827			194,777		47,050		-
	Real Estate Investment Trust securities		1,969			1,969		-		-
	Cash	$	171			171		-		-
	Non - U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	9,911			9,911		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	16,117			16,117		-		-
	Cash	$	22,831			22,831		-		-
		$	388,840		$	328,862	$	59,978	$	-
	Liabilities:
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2040	$	(491	)		-		-		(491	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2041	$	(349	)		-		-		(349	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2042	$	(197	)		-		-		(197	)
		$	(1,037	)	$	-	$	-	$	(1,037	)
	Note 18 – Fair Value Measurements (continued)
	The Company maintains non-qualified trusts, referred to as "rabbi" trusts, to fund payments under deferred compensation and non-qualified pension plans. Rabbi trust assets consist primarily of marketable securities, classified as available-for-sale, and company-owned life insurance assets. The marketable securities held in the rabbi trusts are valued using quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The company-owned life insurance assets are valued in consultation with the Company's insurance brokers using the value of underlying assets of the insurance contracts.  The fair value measurement of the marketable securities held in the rabbi trust is considered a Level 1 measurement and the measurement of the company-owned life insurance assets is considered a Level 2 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	The Company maintains defined benefit retirement plans in certain of its U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries. The assets of the plans are measured at fair value.
	Equity securities held by the U.S. defined benefit retirement plans consist of various mutual funds and exchange traded funds that are valued based on quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The fair value measurement of the mutual funds and exchange traded funds securities is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	Fixed income securities held by the U.S. defined benefit retirement plans consist of exchange traded funds, investments in a group annuity contract, and a short-term investment fund. The exchange traded funds are valued based on quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The fair value measurement of the exchange traded funds securities is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The group annuity contract consists of a general asset account and a pooled separate account. Units of the general asset account are valued based on a discounted cash flow model using the current yields of similar instruments with comparable durations and similar credit risk. The pooled separate accounts are valued based on the value of the underlying bond funds, which are valued at quoted market prices on the last business day of the year, with adjustments made to reflect the nature of how the investment is held. The fair value measurement of the group annuity contract is considered a Level 2 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The short-term investment fund strictly invests in short-term investments, including commercial paper, certificates of deposit, U.S. government agency and instrumentality obligations, U.S. government obligations, corporate notes, and funding agreements. The maturity date of all investments held by the short-term investment fund is within one year from the financial statement date. There are no redemption restrictions on the plan's investment. The fair value of the short-term investment fund has been estimated using the net asset value per share of the investment. The fair value measurement of the short-term investment fund is considered a Level 2 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	Real estate investments held by the U.S. defined benefit retirement plans consisted of real estate investment trust securities that were valued at quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. There were no real estate investment trust securities held by the U.S. defined benefit retirement plans at December 31, 2014.  The fair value measurement of the real estate investments is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	Equity securities held by the non-U.S. defined benefit retirement plans consist of equity securities that are valued based on quoted market prices on the last business day of the year.   The fair value measurement of the equity securities is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	Fixed income securities held by the non-U.S. defined benefit retirement plans consist of government bonds in the Philippines and India and corporate notes that are valued based on quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The fair value measurement of the fixed income securities is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	Cash held by the U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit retirement plans consists of demand deposits on account in various financial institutions to fund current benefit payments. The carrying amount of the cash approximates its fair value.
	The Company holds available for sale investments in debt securities that are intended to fund a portion of its pension and other postretirement benefit obligations outside of the U.S. The investments are valued based on quoted market prices on the last business day of the year. The fair value measurement of the investments is considered a Level 1 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	The convertible senior debentures, due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042, issued by the Company on November 9, 2010, May 13, 2011, and May 31, 2012, respectively, contain embedded derivative features that GAAP requires to be bifurcated and remeasured each reporting period.  Each quarter, the change in the fair value of the embedded derivative features, if any, is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company uses a derivative valuation model to derive the value of the embedded derivative features. Key inputs into this valuation model are the Company's current stock price, risk-free interest rates, the stock dividend yield, the stock volatility, and the debentures' credit spread over London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The first three aforementioned inputs are based on observable market data and are considered Level 2 inputs while the last two aforementioned inputs are unobservable and thus require management's judgment and are considered Level 3 inputs. The fair value measurement is considered a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy.
	Note 18 – Fair Value Measurements (continued)
	Beginning in the third fiscal quarter of 2014, the Company entered into forward contracts with a highly-rated financial institution to mitigate the foreign currency risk associated with an intercompany loan denominated in a currency other than the legal entity's functional currency. The notional amount of the forward contracts was $48,000 as of December 31, 2014. The intercompany loan was used to finance a portion of the purchase price for Capella. The forward contracts settle monthly and are expected to be renewed at the Company's discretion on a monthly basis until the intercompany loan is repaid. The forward contract was renewed on the last day of the year. We have not designated the forward contract as a hedge for accounting purposes, and as such the change in the fair value of the contract is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as a component of other income (expense). The Company estimates the fair value of the forward contract based on applicable and commonly used pricing models using current market information and is considered a Level 2 measurement within the fair value hierachy. Due to the timing of the renewal of the forward contract, the value of the forward contract was immaterial as of December 31, 2104. The Company does not utilize derivatives or other financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.
	The fair value of the long-term debt, excluding the derivative liability, at December 31, 2014 and 2013 is approximately $853,500 and $750,700, respectively, compared to its carrying value, excluding the derivative liability, of $453,817 and $363,874, respectively. The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt using a combination of quoted market prices for similar financing arrangements and expected future payments discounted at risk-adjusted rates, which are considered level 2 inputs.
	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company's short-term investments were comprised of time deposits with financial institutions that have maturities that exceed 90 days from the date of acquisition; however they all mature within one year from the respective balance sheet dates.  The short-term investments acquired in the Capella acquisition are accounted for as available for sale instruments, at fair value.  The Company's remaining short-term investments are accounted for as held-to-maturity debt instruments, at amortized cost, which approximates their fair value. The investments are funded with excess cash not expected to be needed for operations prior to maturity; therefore, the Company believes it has the intent and ability to hold the short-term investments until maturity. At each reporting date, the Company performs an evaluation to determine if any unrealized losses are other-than-temporary. No other-than-temporary impairments have been recognized on these securities, and there are no unrecognized holding gains or losses for these securities during the periods presented. There have been no transfers to or from the held-to-maturity classification. All decreases in the account balance are due to returns of principal at the securities' maturity dates. Interest on the securities is recognized as interest income when earned.
	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company's cash and cash equivalents were comprised of demand deposits, time deposits with maturities of three months or less when purchased, and money market funds. The Company estimates the fair value of its cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments using level 2 inputs. Based on the current interest rates for similar investments with comparable credit risk and time to maturity, the fair value of the Company's cash, cash equivalents, and held-to-maturity short-term investments approximate the carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets.
	The Company's financial instruments also include accounts receivable, short-term notes payable, and accounts payable. The carrying amounts for these financial instruments reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate their fair values.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Note 19 – Related Party Transactions
	Vishay Precision Group, Inc.
	On July 6, 2010, Vishay completed the spin-off of its measurements and foil resistors businesses into an independent, publicly-traded company to be named Vishay Precision Group, Inc. through a tax-free stock dividend to Vishay's stockholders.  Vishay's common stockholders received 1 share of VPG common stock for every 14 shares of Vishay common stock they held on the record date, June 25, 2010, and Vishay's Class B common stockholders received 1 share of VPG Class B common stock for every 14 shares of Vishay Class B common stock they held on the record date.
	Following the spin-off, VPG is an independent company and Vishay retains no ownership interest.
	Relationship with VPG after Spin-off
	Following the spin-off, VPG and Vishay operate separately, each as independent public companies. Vishay Intertechnology has no ownership interest in VPG. However, Ruta Zandman controls a large portion of the voting power of both Vishay and VPG. Marc Zandman, Vishay's Executive Chairman of the Board and an executive officer of Vishay, serves as the Chairman of VPG. Ziv Shoshani, CEO of VPG, serves as a director of Vishay. Additionally, Timothy V. Talbert, a member of Vishay's Board of Directors is also a member of the Board of Directors of VPG.
	In connection with the completion of the spin-off, Vishay and its subsidiaries entered into several agreements with VPG and its subsidiaries that govern the relationship of the parties following the spin-off. Among the agreements entered into with VPG and its subsidiaries were a transition services agreement, several lease agreements, and supply agreements. None of the agreements have had nor are expected to have a material impact on Vishay's financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
	Vishay also entered into a trademark license agreement with VPG pursuant to which Vishay granted VPG the license to use certain trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names, entity names, and domain names which include the term "Vishay." The license granted VPG the limited, exclusive, royalty-free right and license to use certain marks and names incorporating the term "Vishay" in connection with the design, development, manufacture, marketing, provision and performance of certain VPG products that do not compete with any products within Vishay's product range as constituted immediately following the separation and certain services provided in connection with the products. The license cannot be terminated except as a result of willful misconduct or liquidation bankruptcy of VPG.
	Until the spin-off, VPG was included in Vishay's consolidated federal income tax returns and with Vishay and/or certain of Vishay's subsidiaries in applicable combined or unitary state and local income tax returns. In conjunction with the spin-off, Vishay and VPG entered a tax matters agreement under which Vishay generally will be liable for all U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes attributable to VPG with respect to taxable periods ending on or before the distribution date except to the extent that VPG has a liability for such taxes on its books at the time of the spin-off. Vishay is also principally responsible for managing any income tax audits by the various tax jurisdictions for pre-spin-off periods. Vishay has fully indemnified VPG of tax exposures arising prior to the spin-off.

Summary_of_Quarterly_Financial

Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	Note 20 – Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
		2014									2013
		First		Second		Third		Fourth			First			Second		Third			Fourth
	Statement of Operations data:
	Net revenues	$	602,378	$	641,929	$	638,211	$	610,764		$	554,254		$	597,665	$	602,890		$	616,170
	Gross profit		145,283		164,093		158,392		143,524			136,761			142,857		143,220			144,449
	Operating income		42,572		57,923		45,459		43,157			45,605			51,890		53,153			47,034
	Net earnings		25,964		35,832		26,977		29,070			29,141			31,485		32,869			30,274
	Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		154		190		6		(136	)		210			176		150			253
	Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders		25,810		35,642		26,971		29,206			28,931			31,309		32,719			30,021
	Per Share data:
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (a)	$	0.17	$	0.24	$	0.18	$	0.2		$	0.2		$	0.22	$	0.23		$	0.2
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (a)	$	0.17	$	0.23	$	0.17	$	0.19		$	0.19		$	0.21	$	0.22		$	0.2
	Certain Items Recorded during the Quarters:
	Operating income (loss):
	Restructuring and severance costs	$	6,404	$	9,014	$	3,508	$	1,971		$	-		$	-	$	-		$	(2,814	)
	U.S. pension settlement charges	$	-	$	-	$	15,588	$	-		$	-		$	-	$	-		$	-
	Executive compensation credit	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-		$	-		$	1,778	$	-		$	-
	Discrete tax expense (benefit)	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	(1,228	)	$	(1,330	)	$	-	$	(2,867	)	$	-
	Quarter end date (b)	29-Mar		28-Jun		27-Sep		31-Dec			30-Mar			29-Jun		28-Sep			31-Dec
	(a) May not add due to differences in weighted average share counts.
	(b) The Company reports interim financial information for 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Vishay and all of its subsidiaries in which a controlling financial interest is maintained.  For those consolidated subsidiaries in which the Company's ownership is less than 100 percent, the outside stockholders' interests are shown as noncontrolling interest in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  Investments in affiliates over which the Company has significant influence but not a controlling interest are carried on the equity basis. Investments in affiliates over which the Company does not have significant influence are accounted for by the cost method. All intercompany transactions, accounts, and profits are eliminated.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events
	In connection with the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and in accordance with GAAP, the Company evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date of December 31, 2014 through the date these financial statements were issued through the filing of this annual report on Form 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue on product sales during the period when the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped to the customer in accordance with terms of an agreement of sale, title and risk of loss have been transferred, collectibility is reasonably assured, and pricing is fixed or determinable. For the portion of sales where title and risk of loss passes at point of delivery, the Company recognizes revenue upon delivery to the customer, assuming all other criteria for revenue recognition are met. The Company historically has had agreements with distributors that provided limited rights of product return. The Company has modified these arrangements to allow distributors a limited credit for unsaleable products, which it terms a "scrap allowance." Consistent with industry practice, the Company also has a "stock, ship and debit" program whereby it considers requests by distributors for credits on previously purchased products that remain in distributors' inventory, to enable the distributors to offer more competitive pricing. In addition, the Company has contractual arrangements whereby it provides distributors with protection against price reductions initiated by the Company after product is sold by the Company to the distributor and prior to resale by the distributor.
	The Company records a reduction of revenue during each period, and records a related accrued expense for the period, based upon its estimate of product returns, scrap allowances, "stock, ship and debit" credits, and price protection credits that will be attributable to sales recorded through the end of the period. The Company makes these estimates based upon sales levels to its distributors during the period, inventory levels at the distributors, current and projected market conditions, and historical experience under the programs. While the Company utilizes a number of different methodologies to estimate the accruals, all of the methodologies take into account sales levels to distributors during the relevant period, inventory levels at the distributors, current and projected market trends and conditions, recent and historical activity under the relevant programs, changes in program policies, and open requests for credits. These procedures require the exercise of significant judgments. The Company believes that it has a reasonable basis to estimate future credits under the programs.
	Royalty revenues, included in net revenues on the consolidated statements of operations, were $4,525, $6,362, and $7,131 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.  The Company records royalty revenue in accordance with agreed upon terms when performance obligations are satisfied, the amount is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured. Vishay earns royalties at the point of sale of products which incorporate licensed intellectual property. Accordingly, the amount of royalties recognized is determined based on periodic reporting to Vishay by its licensees, and based on judgments and estimates by Vishay management, which management considers reasonable.
Shipping and Handling Costs	Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	Shipping and Handling Costs
	Shipping and handling costs are included in costs of products sold.
Research and Development Expenses	Research and Development Expenses
	Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The amount charged to expense for research and development (exclusive of purchased in-process research and development) aggregated $65,299, $62,090, and $57,164, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The Company spends additional amounts for the development of machinery and equipment for new processes and for cost reduction measures.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the financial and tax bases of the Company's assets and liabilities and are adjusted for changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances have been established for deferred tax assets which the Company believes do not meet GAAP criteria of "more likely than not" to be realilzed.  This criterion requires a level of judgment regarding future taxable income, which may be revised due to changes in market conditions, tax laws, or other factors. If the Company's assumptions and estimates change in the future, valuation allowances established may be increased, resulting in increased tax expense. Conversely, if the Company is ultimately able to utilize all or a portion of the deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance has been established, then the related portion of the valuation allowance can be released, resulting in decreased tax expense.
	Substantially all earnings generated by non-U.S. subsidiaries prior to 2014, and cash generated in 2014 which is not funding the dividend program or the Capella acquisition, are deemed to be reinvested outside of the United States indefinitely.  Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. federal and state income taxes on these foreign earnings.  Upon distribution of those earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company would be subject to U.S. income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits), state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries.
	The Company expects to fund the quarterly dividend program initiated in February 2014, by, at least in part, repatriating current year income of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries and providing appropriate U.S. federal and state income taxes, incremental foreign income taxes, and withholding taxes payable on that current period non-U.S. income.
	The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions.  Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Company's tax positions and determining its provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Company establishes reserves for tax-related uncertainties based on estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. These reserves are established when the Company believes that certain positions might be challenged despite the Company's belief that its tax return positions are fully supportable.  The Company adjusts these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances and the provision for income taxes includes the impact of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate.
	These accruals for tax-related uncertainties are based on management's best estimate of potential tax exposures. When particular matters arise, a number of years may elapse before such matters are audited by tax authorities and finally resolved.  Favorable resolution of such matters could be recognized as a reduction to the Company's effective tax rate in the year of resolution.  Unfavorable resolution of any particular issue could increase the effective tax rate and may require the use of cash in the year of resolution.  The amount included in current liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets reflect only amounts expected to be settled in cash within one year.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-Term Investments
	Cash and cash equivalents includes demand deposits and highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.  Highly liquid investments with original maturities greater than three months, but less than one year are classified as short-term investments.  At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company's short-term investments were comprised of time deposits with financial institutions whose original maturity exceeds three months, but less than one year.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The allowance is determined through an analysis of the aging of accounts receivable and assessments of risk that are based on historical trends and an evaluation of the impact of current and projected economic conditions. The Company evaluates the past-due status of its trade receivables based on contractual terms of sale. If the financial condition of the Company's customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Bad debt expense (income realized upon subsequent collection) was $(424), $62, and $(24) for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
Inventories	Inventories
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out method, or market. Inventories are adjusted for estimated obsolescence and written down to net realizable value based upon estimates of future demand, technology developments, and market conditions.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment
	Property and equipment is carried at cost and is depreciated principally by the straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets. Machinery and equipment are being depreciated over useful lives of seven to ten years. Buildings and building improvements are being depreciated over useful lives of twenty to forty years. Construction in progress is not depreciated until the assets are placed in service. The estimated cost to complete construction in progress at December 31, 2014 was approximately $40,980. Depreciation of capital lease assets is included in total depreciation expense. Depreciation expense was $160,804, $155,064, and $153,801 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.  Gains and losses on the disposal of assets which do not qualify for presentation as discontinued operations are included in the determination of operating margin (within selling, general, and administrative expenses).  Individually material gains and losses on disposal are separately disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but rather are tested for impairment at least annually. The required annual impairment tests of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are completed as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter of each year.  These tests are performed more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired.  The Company's business segments (see Note 15) represent its reporting units for goodwill impairment testing purposes.  Certain of the Company's tradenames have been assigned indefinite useful lives.
	Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives.  Patents and acquired technology are being amortized over useful lives of seven to twenty-five years.  Capitalized software is amortized over periods of three to ten years, primarily included in costs of products sold on the consolidated statements of operations.  Customer relationships are amortized over useful lives of five to twenty years.  Noncompete agreements are amortized over periods of three to ten years. The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets.
	GAAP prescribes a two-step quantitative method for determining goodwill impairment. The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment before performing the two-step quantitative impairment test. If it is determined, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is not more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step quantitative impairment test is not required. If it is determined that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step quantitative impairment test is required. In the first step, the Company determines the fair value of the reporting unit and compares that fair value to the net book value of the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting unit is determined using various valuation techniques, including a comparable companies market multiple approach and a discounted cash flow analysis (an income approach).
	If the net book value of the reporting unit were to exceed the fair value, the Company would then perform the second step of the quantitative impairment test, which requires allocation of the reporting unit's fair value to all of its assets and liabilities in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, with any residual fair value being allocated to goodwill. An impairment charge will be recognized only when the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill is less than its carrying amount.
	The Company has the option of performing a qualitative assessment of the indefinite-lived intangible assets before performing a quantitative impairment test. The fair value of the tradenames is measured as the discounted cash flow savings realized from owning such tradenames and not having to pay a royalty for their use.
	There was no impairment identified through the annual impairment tests completed in 2014, 2013, or 2012.
	Upon determining that an intangible asset classified as indefinite-lived is impaired, the Company reassesses the useful life of the impaired assets and begins to amortize the remaining carrying value over that useful life if it is determined that the asset no longer has an indefinite useful life.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The carrying value of long-lived assets held-and-used, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, is evaluated when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed. The carrying value of a long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the total projected undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are separately identifiable and are less than the carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair market value of the long-lived asset group.  Fair market value is determined primarily using present value techniques based on projected cash flows from the asset group.  Losses on long-lived assets held-for-sale, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, are determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values are reduced for anticipated disposal costs.
Available-for-Sale Securities	Available-for-Sale Securities
	Short-term investments and other assets reported on the consolidated balance sheets include time deposits with financial institutions whose original maturity exceeds three months, but less than one year and investments in marketable securities which are classified as available-for-sale. These assets include short-term investments acquired in the Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) Inc. ("Capella") acquisition (see Note 2), assets that are held in trust related to the Company's non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans (see Note 11), and assets that are intended to fund a portion of the Company's other postretirement benefit obligations outside of the U.S. These assets are reported at fair value, based on quoted market prices as of the end of the reporting period. Unrealized gains and losses are reported, net of their related tax consequences, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders' equity until sold. At the time of sale, the assets that are held in trust related to the Company's non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans, any gains (losses) calculated by the specific identification method are recognized as a reduction (increase) to benefits expense, within selling, general, and administrative expenses.
Financial Instruments	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Financial Instruments
	The Company uses financial instruments in the normal course of its business, including from time to time, derivative financial instruments. Additionally, from time to time, the Company enters into contracts that are not considered derivative financial instruments in their entirety, but that include embedded derivative features. The convertible senior debentures due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042 contain embedded derivatives that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, outstanding derivative instruments were not material.
	The Company reports derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet at their fair values.  The accounting for changes in fair value depends upon the purpose of the derivative instrument and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting. For instruments designated as hedges, the effective portion of gains or losses is reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion, if any, is reported in current period net earnings (loss).  Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges, including embedded derivatives, are recorded in current period net earnings (loss).
	The Company has in the past used interest rate swap agreements to modify variable rate obligations to fixed rate obligations, thereby reducing exposure to market rate fluctuations. The Company uses financial instruments such as forward exchange contracts to mitigate a portion, but not all, of the risk associated with its firm commitments denominated in foreign currencies.  The purpose of the Company's foreign currency management is to minimize the effect of exchange rate changes on actual cash flows from foreign currency denominated transactions.
	Other financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, held-to-maturity short-term investments, accounts receivable, and notes payable. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation
	The Company has significant operations outside of the United States. The Company finances its operations in Europe and certain locations in Asia in local currencies, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the local currency as their functional currency. The Company's operations in Israel and most significant locations in Asia are largely financed in U.S. dollars, and accordingly, these subsidiaries utilize the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
	For those subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency, assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets have been translated at the rate of exchange as of the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments do not impact the consolidated results of operations and are reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the year. While the translation of revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars does not directly impact the statement of operations, the translation effectively increases or decreases the U.S. dollar equivalent of revenues generated and expenses incurred in those foreign currencies.
	For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, all foreign currency financial statement amounts are remeasured into U.S. dollars. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated results of operations.
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation
	Compensation costs related to stock-based payment transactions are recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity (or liability) instruments issued. Compensation cost is recognized over the period that an officer, employee, or non-employee director provides service in exchange for the award. For options and restricted stock units subject to graded vesting, the Company recognizes expense over the service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards.  The Company recognizes compensation cost for restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are expected to vest and records cumulative adjustments in the period that the expectation changes.
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting (continued)
	Commitments and Contingencies
	Liabilities for loss contingencies, including environmental remediation costs, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. The costs for a specific environmental remediation site are discounted if the aggregate amount of the obligation and the amount and timing of the cash payments for that site are fixed or reliably determinable based upon information derived from the remediation plan for that site. Accrued liabilities for environmental matters recorded at December 31, 2014 and 2013 do not include claims against third parties.
Restructuring and Severance Costs	Restructuring and Severance Costs
	Restructuring and severance costs reflect charges resulting from cost reduction programs implemented by the Company.  Restructuring and severance costs include exit costs, severance benefits pursuant to an on-going arrangement, voluntary termination compensation under a defined program, and any related pension curtailment and settlement charges.
	The Company recognizes expense for one-time benefits only after management has committed to a plan, the plan is sufficiently detailed to provide the number, classification, and location of employees to be terminated as well as the expected completion date, the plan has been sufficiently communicated to employees such that they are able to determine the type and amount of benefits they will receive if terminated, and it is unlikely that the plan will be significantly changed or withdrawn. If an employee is not required to render service beyond a minimum retention period, the Company recognizes expense once the aforementioned criteria have been met. If an employee is required to render service beyond a minimum retention period, the Company recognizes expense over the period that the employee is required to render future service.
	The Company recognizes expense for on-going benefit arrangements when the liability is reasonably estimable and considered probable.
	The Company recognizes expense for voluntary separation / early retirement when the employee delivers an irrevocable voluntary termination notice pursuant to a defined company program.
	The Company recognizes other exit costs as incurred.
Self-Insurance Programs	Self-Insurance Programs
	The Company uses a combination of insurance and self-insurance mechanisms to provide for the potential liabilities for workers' compensation, general liability, property damage, director and officers' liability, and vehicle liability.
	As part of its self-insurance program for certain risks, the Company created a wholly-owned captive insurance entity in 2007. At December 31, 2014, the captive insurance entity provides only property and general liability insurance, although it is licensed to also provide casualty and directors' and officers' insurance. The captive insurance entity had no amounts accrued for outstanding claims at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
	Certain cash and investments held by the captive insurance entity are restricted primarily for the purpose of potential insurance claims. Restricted cash of $7,309 and $7,927 is included in other noncurrent assets at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, representing required statutory reserves of the captive insurance entity.
Convertible Debentures	Convertible Debentures
	The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash in a manner that reflects the Company's nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The liability component at issuance is recognized at fair value, based on the fair value of a similar instrument that does not have a conversion feature. A discount is recorded if debentures are issued at a coupon rate which is below the rate of a similar instrument that did not have a conversion feature at issuance.  The equity component is based on the excess of the principal amount of the debentures over the fair value of the liability component, after adjusting for an allocation of debt issuance costs and the deferred tax impact, and is recorded as capital in excess of par. Debt discounts are amortized as additional non-cash interest expense over the expected life of the debt.
Reclassifications	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.

Earnings_Per_Share_Policies

Earnings Per Share (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Discussion on convertible debt included in computation of earnings per share diluted	The Company's convertible debt instruments are only convertible upon the occurrence of certain events.  The convertible debentures due 2042 were convertible subsequent to the September 27, 2014 evaluation of the conversion criteria until subsequent to the December 31, 2014 evaluation of the conversion criteria.  In periods that the debentures are not convertible, the certain conditions which could trigger conversion of the remaining debentures have been deemed to be non-substantive, and accordingly, the Company has always assumed the conversion of these instruments in its diluted earnings per share computation during periods in which they are dilutive.
	At the direction of its Board of Directors, the Company intends, upon conversion, to repay the principal amounts of the convertible senior debentures, due 2040, due 2041, and due 2042, in cash and settle any additional amounts in shares of Vishay common stock. Accordingly, the debentures are included in the diluted earnings per share computation using the "treasury stock method" (similar to options and warrants) rather than the "if converted method" otherwise required for convertible debt. Under the "treasury stock method," Vishay calculates the number of shares issuable under the terms of the debentures based on the average market price of Vishay common stock during the period, and that number is included in the total diluted shares figure for the period.  If the average market price is less than $13.66, no shares are included in the diluted earnings per share computation for the convertible senior debentures due 2040, if the average market price is less than $18.72, no shares are included in the diluted earnings per share computation for the convertible senior debentures due 2041, and if the average market price is less than $11.62, no shares are included in the diluted earnings per share computation for the convertible senior debentures due 2042.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Polici

Fair Value Measurements (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy	The fair value measurement accounting guidance establishes a valuation hierarchy of the inputs used to measure fair value. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of those three levels:
	Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
	Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company's own assumptions.
	An asset or liability's classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_Ac1

Acquisition and Divestiture Activities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Acquisition and Divestiture Activities [Abstract]
Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]	Based on an estimate of their fair values, the Company allocated the purchase price of the acquisition as follows:
	Short-term investments	$	47,438
	Working capital (excluding cash and short-term investments)		(6,374	)
	Property and equipment		4,134
	Intangible assets:
	Patents and acquired technology		14,870
	Capitalized software		101
	Customer relationships		54,400
	Tradenames		5,110
	Total intangible assets		74,481
	Other, net		(454	)
	Deferred taxes, net		(16,769	)
	Total identified assets and liabilities		102,456
	Cash paid to Capella stockholders, net of cash acquired		177,410
	Fair value of noncontrolling interest		21,895
	Goodwill	$	96,849
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]	Pro Forma Results
	The unaudited pro forma results would have been as follows, assuming the 2014 acquisitions had occurred as of January 1, 2013:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Pro forma net revenues	$	2,522,010		$	2,446,503
	Pro forma net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders		114,510			128,252
	Pro forma basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.78		$	0.88
	Pro forma diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.75		$	0.85

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill rollforward	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		Optoelectronic Components			Resistors & Inductors			Capacitors			Total
	Balance at January 1, 2013	$	-		$	34,866		$	-		$	34,866
	MCB Industrie acquisition		-			7,985			-			7,985
	Exchange rate effects		-			281			-			281
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	-		$	43,132		$	-		$	43,132
	Holy Stone Polytech acquisition		-			-			6,328			6,328
	Capella acquisition		96,849			-			-			96,849
	Exchange rate effects		-			(986	)		(964	)		(1,950	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	96,849		$	42,146		$	5,364		$	144,359
Other Intangible Assets	Other intangible assets are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization
	(Definite-lived):
	Patents and acquired technology	$	108,190		$	92,842
	Capitalized software		53,369			55,893
	Customer relationships		153,853			99,558
	Tradenames		39,612			35,845
	Non-competition agreements		2,283			1,948
			357,307			286,086
	Accumulated amortization:
	Patents and acquired technology		(71,700	)		(66,337	)
	Capitalized software		(45,979	)		(50,006	)
	Customer relationships		(50,630	)		(40,727	)
	Tradenames		(21,384	)		(18,560	)
	Non-competition agreements		(1,360	)		(864	)
			(191,053	)		(176,494	)
	Net Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization		166,254			109,592
	Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization
	(Indefinite-lived):
	Tradenames		20,359			20,359
		$	186,613		$	129,951
Estimated annual amortization expense for each of the next five years	Estimated annual amortization expense of intangible assets on the balance sheet at December 31, 2014 for each of the next five years is as follows:
	2015	$	27,235
	2016		25,593
	2017		21,757
	2018		18,377
	2019		14,396

Restructuring_and_Related_Acti1

Restructuring and Related Activities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring and Related Expenses	The following table summarizes restructuring and related expenses which were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 and reported on a separate line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	MOSFETS Enhanced Competitiveness Program	$	6,025		$	2,328
	Voluntary Separation / Retirement Program		12,792			486
	Modules Production Transfer Program		2,080			-
	Total	$	20,897		$	2,814
MOSFETs Enhanced Competitiveness Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the activity to date related to this program:
	Expense recorded in 2013	$	2,328
	Cash paid		(267	)
	Foreign currency translation		-
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	2,061
	Expense recorded in 2014		6,025
	Cash paid		(856	)
	Foreign currency translation		-
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	7,230
Voluntary Separation/Retirement Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the activity to date related to this program:
	Expense recorded in 2013	$	486
	Cash paid		(98	)
	Foreign currency translation		3
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	391
	Expense recorded in 2014		12,792
	Cash paid		(8,054	)
	Foreign currency translation		(455	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	4,674
Modules Product Transfer [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost [Table Text Block]	The following table summarizes the activity to date related to this program:
	Expense recorded in 2014	$	2,080
	Cash paid		(464	)
	Foreign currency translation		(121	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,495

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Components of income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and noncontrolling interest	Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and noncontrolling interests consists of the following components:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Domestic	$	(50,106	)	$	(26,065	)	$	(15,995	)
	Foreign		217,249			202,470			186,032
		$	167,143		$	176,405		$	170,037
Components of income taxes	Significant components of income taxes are as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Current:
	Federal	$	(27,031	)	$	(603	)	$	8,409
	State and local		386			280			574
	Foreign		60,282			51,225			44,351
			33,637			50,902			53,334
	Deferred:
	Federal		7,999			2,215			(8,557	)
	State and local		204			92			(240	)
	Foreign		7,460			(573	)		1,969
			15,663			1,734			(6,828	)
	Total income tax expense	$	49,300		$	52,636		$	46,506
Deferred tax assets and liabilities	Note 5 – Income Taxes (continued)
	Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Pension and other retiree obligations	$	43,393		$	34,343
	Inventories		8,013			8,759
	Net operating loss carryforwards		198,677			182,691
	Tax credit carryforwards		25,046			20,780
	Other accruals and reserves		32,376			31,469
	Total gross deferred tax assets		307,505			278,042
	Less valuation allowance		(186,614	)		(183,289	)
			120,891			94,753
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Tax over book depreciation		(10,257	)		(10,652	)
	Intangible assets other than goodwill		(20,507	)		(1,539	)
	Earnings not permanently reinvested		(25,334	)		(1,652	)
	Convertible debentures		(175,935	)		(162,371	)
	Other - net		(3,590	)		(2,741	)
	Total gross deferred tax liabilities		(235,623	)		(178,955	)
	Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	$	(114,732	)	$	(84,202	)
Federal statutory income tax rate reconciliation	A reconciliation of income tax expense at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to actual income tax provision is as follows:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Tax at statutory rate	$	58,500		$	61,742		$	59,513
	State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit		384			242			217
	Effect of foreign operations		(27,372	)		(18,696	)		(19,083	)
	Tax on earnings not permanently reinvested		25,728			-			-
	Unrecognized tax benefits		(21,603	)		2,862			6,626
	Change in valuation allowance on non-U.S. deferred tax assets		-			(285	)		(4,036	)
	Foreign income taxable in the U.S.		13,499			11,961			7,476
	U.S. foreign tax credits		-			-			(4,257	)
	Effect of statutory rate changes on deferred tax assets		226			(2,867	)		-
	Other		(62	)		(2,323	)		50
	Total income tax expense	$	49,300		$	52,636		$	46,506
Net operating loss carryforwards	At December 31, 2014, the Company had the following significant net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes:
					Expires
	Austria	$	14,515		No expiration
	Belgium		173,541		No expiration
	Brazil		14,876		No expiration
	Germany		42,968		No expiration
	Israel		62,528		No expiration
	Netherlands		23,411			2015 - 2023
	United States		78,784			2033 - 2034
	California		53,979			2016 - 2034
	Pennsylvania		736,159			2018 - 2034
Summary of significant tax credit carryforwards available	At December 31, 2014, the Company had the following significant tax credit carryforwards available:
					Expires
	U.S. Foreign Tax Credit	$	11,093			2020 - 2022
	California Research Credit		10,926		No expiration
Unrecognized tax benefits	The following table summarizes changes in the liabilities associated with unrecognized tax benefits:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of year	$	45,877		$	51,771		$	48,152
	Addition based on tax positions related to the current year		1,641			-			665
	Addition based on tax positions related to prior years		6,484			4,015			3,498
	Currency translation adjustments		(1,387	)		310			(215	)
	Reduction based on tax positions related to prior years		-			(2,054	)		-
	Reduction for settlements		(3,556	)		(7,316	)		(329	)
	Reduction for lapses of statute of limitation		(22,476	)		(849	)		-
	Balance at end of year	$	26,583		$	45,877		$	51,771

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Schedule of long-term debt instruments	Long-term debt consists of the following:
		31-Dec-14			31-Dec-13
	Credit facility	$	200,000		$	114,000
	Exchangeable unsecured notes, due 2102		38,642			38,642
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2040		103,841			101,846
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2041		53,249			52,264
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2042		59,190			58,159
			454,922			364,911
	Less current portion		-			-
		$	454,922		$	364,911
Key terms of the convertible debentures	The following table summarizes some key facts and terms regarding the three series of outstanding convertible senior debentures following the adjustment made to the conversion rate of the debentures on the ex-dividend date of the December 16, 2014 dividend payment:
		Due 2040			Due 2041			Due 2042
	Issuance date	9-Nov-10			13-May-11			31-May-12
	Maturity date	15-Nov-40			15-May-41			1-Jun-42
	Principal amount	$	275,000		$	150,000		$	150,000
	Cash coupon rate (per annum)		2.25	%		2.25	%		2.25	%
	Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance (per annum)		8	%		8.375	%		7.5	%
	Conversion rate effective November 24, 2014 (per $1 principal amount)		73.2147			53.4282			86.0829
	Effective conversion price effective November 24, 2014 (per share)	$	13.66		$	18.72		$	11.62
	130% of the conversion price (per share)	$	17.76		$	24.34		$	15.11
	Call date	20-Nov-20			20-May-21			7-Jun-22
Liability and equity components of the convertible debentures	The carrying values of the liability and equity components of the convertible debentures are reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as follows:
		Principal amount of the debentures			Unamortized discount			Embedded derivative			Carrying value of liability component			Equity component - net carrying value
	31-Dec-14
	Due 2040	$	275,000			(171,685	)		526		$	103,841		$	110,094
	Due 2041	$	150,000			(97,092	)		341		$	53,249		$	62,246
	Due 2042	$	150,000			(91,048	)		238		$	59,190		$	57,874
	Total	$	575,000		$	(359,825	)	$	1,105		$	216,280		$	230,214
	31-Dec-13
	Due 2040	$	275,000			(173,645	)		491		$	101,846		$	110,094
	Due 2041	$	150,000			(98,085	)		349		$	52,264		$	62,246
	Due 2042	$	150,000			(92,038	)		197		$	58,159		$	57,874
	Total	$	575,000		$	(363,768	)	$	1,037		$	212,269		$	230,214
Schedule of Interest Expense on Convertible Debt [Table Text Block]	Interest expense related to the debentures is reflected on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31:
		Contractual coupon interest			Non-cash amortization of debt discount			Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs			Non-cash change in value of derivative liability			Total interest expense related to the debentures
	2014
	Due 2040	$	6,188			1,960			88			35		$	8,271
	Due 2041	$	3,375			993			47			(8	)	$	4,407
	Due 2042	$	3,375			990			54			41		$	4,460
	Total	$	12,938		$	3,943		$	189		$	68		$	17,138
	2013
	Due 2040	$	6,188			1,811			88			(131	)	$	7,956
	Due 2041	$	3,375			915			47			(50	)	$	4,287
	Due 2042	$	3,375			920			54			(85	)	$	4,264
	Total	$	12,938		$	3,646		$	189		$	(266	)	$	16,507
	2012
	Due 2040	$	6,188			1,675			88			28		$	7,979
	Due 2041	$	3,375			843			45			7		$	4,270
	Due 2042	$	1,978			510			32			46		$	2,566
	Total	$	11,541		$	3,028		$	165		$	81		$	14,815
Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt	Other Borrowings Information
	Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt, based on the terms stated in the respective agreements, are as follows:
	2015	$	-
	2016		-
	2017		-
	2018		200,000
	2019		-
	Thereafter		613,642

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Shares of common stock reserved for future issuance	At December 31, 2014, the Company had reserved shares of common stock for future issuance as follows:
	Restricted stock units outstanding	1,147,000
	Phantom stock units outstanding	119,000
	Common stock options outstanding	105,000
	2007 Stock Incentive Program - available to grant	3,693,000
	Exchangeable unsecured notes, due 2102	2,511,742
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2040*	22,685,258
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2041*	9,070,490
	Convertible senior debentures, due 2042*	14,750,865
	Conversion of Class B common stock	12,129,227
		66,211,582
	___________________
	*At December 31, 2014, 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 adequate shares to ensure it could issue the maximum amount of shares to be delivered upon a make-whole fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the debentures.

Other_Income_Expense_Tables

Other Income (Expense) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Summary of other Income (expense)	The caption "Other" on the consolidated statements of operations consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Foreign exchange gain (loss)	$	(1,115	)	$	(993	)	$	(3,654	)
	Interest income		4,939			4,566			7,626
	Other		(1,335	)		(1,720	)		(532	)
		$	2,489		$	1,853		$	3,440

Other_Accrued_Expenses_Tables

Other Accrued Expenses (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Accrued Expenses (Tables) [Abstract]
Summary of other accrued expenses	Other accrued expenses consist of the following:
		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Sales returns and allowances	$	35,203	$	34,465
	Goods received, not yet invoiced		28,645		36,692
	Other		73,728		75,513
		$	137,576	$	146,670

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Summary of components of other comprehensive income	The cumulative balance of each component of other comprehensive income (loss) and the income tax effects allocated to each component are as follows:
		Pension and			Currency translation adjustment			Unrealized gain (loss) on			Total
		other post-retirement						available-for-sale securities
		actuarial items
	Balance at January 1, 2012	$	(149,197	)	$	152,894		$	81		$	3,778
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(57,072	)		14,567			1,834		$	(40,671	)
	Tax effect		16,626			-			(642	)	$	15,984
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		(40,446	)		14,567			1,192		$	(24,687	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI		16,059			-			-		$	16,059
	Tax effect		(5,372	)		-			-		$	(5,372	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax		10,687			-			-		$	10,687
	Net comprehensive income	$	(29,759	)	$	14,567		$	1,192		$	(14,000	)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	(178,956	)	$	167,461		$	1,273		$	(10,222	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		52,545			23,537			913		$	76,995
	Tax effect		(16,334	)		-			(299	)	$	(16,633	)
	Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		36,211			23,537			614		$	60,362
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI		19,112			-			(2,019	)	$	17,093
	Tax effect		(6,285	)		-			686		$	(5,599	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax		12,827			-			(1,333	)	$	11,494
	Net comprehensive income	$	49,038		$	23,537		$	(719	)	$	71,856
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	(129,918	)	$	190,998		$	554		$	61,634
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(60,602	)		(106,295	)		2,175		$	(164,722	)
	Tax effect		18,117			-			(758	)	$	17,359
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax		(42,485	)		(106,295	)		1,417		$	(147,363	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI		25,604			-			(78	)	$	25,526
	Tax effect		(8,961	)		-			24		$	(8,937	)
	Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax		16,643			-			(54	)	$	16,589
	Net comprehensive income (loss)	$	(25,842	)	$	(106,295	)	$	1,363		$	(130,774	)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(155,760	)	$	84,703		$	1,917		$	(69,140	)

Pensions_and_Other_Postretirem1

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Retirement Plan amounts recorded on consolidated balance sheets	The following table summarizes amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheets associated with these various retirement benefit plans:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	Included in "Other assets":
	U.S. pension plans	$	12,964		$	15,708
	Non-U.S. pension plans		212			257
	Total included in other assets	$	13,176		$	15,965
	Included in "Payroll and related expenses":
	U.S. pension plans	$	(51	)	$	(51	)
	Non-U.S. pension plans		(6,624	)		(7,644	)
	U.S. other postretirement plans		(666	)		(638	)
	Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		(349	)		-
	Total included in payroll and related expenses	$	(7,690	)	$	(8,333	)
	Accrued pension and other postretirement costs:
	U.S. pension plans	$	(40,744	)	$	(35,397	)
	Non-U.S. pension plans		(231,278	)		(224,280	)
	U.S. other postretirement plans		(8,011	)		(6,703	)
	Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		(6,934	)		(7,504	)
	Other retirement obligations		(13,557	)		(14,017	)
	Total accrued pension and other postretirement costs	$	(300,524	)	$	(287,901	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
	U.S. pension plans	$	88,474		$	84,384
	Non-U.S. pension plans		88,076			61,652
	U.S. other postretirement plans		(3,325	)		(5,782	)
	Non-U.S. other postretirement plans		1,750			1,246
	Total accumulated other comprehensive loss*	$	174,975		$	141,500
	* - Amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss are presented in this table pre-tax.
Defined Benefit Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Reconciliation of benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status	The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status related to U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	315,373		$	280,526		$	355,065		$	282,448
	Service cost		-			3,275			-			3,499
	Interest cost		13,821			8,555			13,882			8,150
	Acquisitions		-			465			-			-
	Plan amendments		-			-			-			23
	Actuarial (gains) losses		50,584			40,021			(34,703	)		(5,134	)
	Benefits paid		(18,940	)		(15,888	)		(18,871	)		(13,980	)
	Curtailments and settlements		(59,363	)		(486	)		-			-
	Currency translation		-			(29,622	)		-			5,520
	Benefit obligation at end of year	$	301,475		$	286,846		$	315,373		$	280,526
	Change in plan assets:
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	295,633		$	48,859		$	265,866			46,580
	Actual return on plan assets		38,688			1,858			31,018			2,482
	Acquisitions		-			10			-			-
	Company contributions		17,626			17,015			17,620			14,781
	Benefits paid		(18,940	)		(15,888	)		(18,871	)		(13,980	)
	Curtailments and settlements		(59,363	)		(486	)		-			-
	Currency translation		-			(2,212	)		-			(1,004	)
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	273,644		$	49,156		$	295,633		$	48,859
	Funded status at end of year	$	(27,831	)	$	(237,690	)	$	(19,740	)	$	(231,667	)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet	Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
	Other assets	$	12,964		$	212		$	15,708		$	257
	Accrued benefit liability - currrent		(51	)		(6,624	)		(51	)		(7,644	)
	Accrued benefit liability - non-current		(40,744	)		(231,278	)		(35,397	)		(224,280	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss		88,474			88,076			84,384			61,652
		$	60,643		$	(149,614	)	$	64,644		$	(170,015	)
Components of actuarial items	Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
	Actuarial items consist of the following:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
	Unrecognized net actuarial loss	$	87,195		$	88,076		$	83,161		$	61,652
	Unamortized prior service cost		1,279			-			1,223			-
		$	88,474		$	88,076		$	84,384		$	61,652
Projected and accumulated benefit obligations	The following table sets forth additional information regarding the projected and accumulated benefit obligations:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
	Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans	$	301,475		$	269,069		$	315,373		$	260,558
	Plans for which the accumulated benefit
	obligation exceeds plan assets:
	Projected benefit obligation	$	40,795		$	272,977		$	35,448		$	251,569
	Accumulated benefit obligation		40,795			261,996			35,448			238,419
	Fair value of plan assets		-			37,634			-			21,356
Components of the net periodic benefit costs	The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014						2013						2012
		U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.			U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans			Plans
	Service cost net of employee contributions	$	-		$	3,275		$	-		$	3,499		$	-		$	3,247
	Interest cost		13,821			8,555			13,882			8,150			15,699			9,374
	Expected return on plan assets		(14,892	)		(2,109	)		(19,124	)		(2,084	)		(18,972	)		(1,667	)
	Amortization of actuarial losses		7,166			2,700			14,566			3,407			12,960			1,681
	Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(56	)		(5	)		978			(12	)		2,200			60
	Curtailment and settlement losses		15,588			1,137			-			959			-			-
	Net periodic pension cost	$	21,627		$	13,553		$	10,302		$	13,919		$	11,887		$	12,695
Weighted average assumptions used	The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years:
		2014						2013
		U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
	Discount rate		4	%		2.15	%		5	%		3.11	%
	Rate of compensation increase		0	%		1.97	%		0	%		1.99	%
	The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic pension costs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014						2013
		U.S. Plans			Non-U.S.			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
					Plans
	Discount rate		4.85	%		3.11	%		4	%		3.04	%
	Rate of compensation increase		0	%		1.99	%		0	%		1.48	%
	Expected return on plan assets		5.29	%		3.85	%		7.25	%		4.44	%
Estimated future benefit payments	Estimated future benefit payments are as follows:
		U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans
	2015	$	15,691		$	14,140
	2016		16,037			14,230
	2017		16,420			16,247
	2018		23,084			14,968
	2019		18,683			16,036
	2020-2024		91,834			80,418
Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Reconciliation of benefit obligation, plan assets, and funded status	The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and accrued benefit cost related to U.S. and non-U.S. non-pension defined benefit postretirement plans:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans
		Plans						Plans
	Change in benefit obligation:
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	7,341		$	7,504		$	8,157		$	6,964
	Service cost		115			307			111			299
	Interest cost		351			244			314			257
	Plan amendments		-			-			-			-
	Actuarial (gains) losses		1,492			752			(639	)		398
	Benefits paid		(622	)		(565	)		(602	)		(740	)
	Currency translation		-			(959	)		-			326
	Benefit obligation at end of year	$	8,677		$	7,283		$	7,341		$	7,504
	Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-
	Funded status at end of year	$	(8,677	)	$	(7,283	)	$	(7,341	)	$	(7,504	)
Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheet	Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans						Plans			Plans
	Accrued benefit liability - current	$	(666	)	$	(349	)	$	(638	)	$	-
	Accrued benefit liability - non-current		(8,011	)		(6,934	)		(6,703	)		(7,504	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive income		(3,325	)		1,750			(5,782	)		1,246
		$	(12,002	)	$	(5,533	)	$	(13,123	)	$	(6,258	)
Components of actuarial items	Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
	Actuarial items consist of the following:
		31-Dec-14						31-Dec-13
		U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S.			Non-U.S. Plans
		Plans						Plans
	Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)	$	(668	)	$	1,750		$	(2,301	)	$	1,246
	Unamortized prior service (credit) cost		(2,657	)		-			(3,481	)		-
		$	(3,325	)	$	1,750		$	(5,782	)	$	1,246
Components of the net periodic benefit costs	The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014						2013						2012
		U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
	Service cost	$	115		$	307		$	111		$	299		$	106		$	253
	Interest cost		351			244			314			257			366			286
	Amortization of actuarial (gains) losses		(140	)		38			4			8			(76	)		-
	Amortization of prior service credit		(824	)		-			(798	)		-			(798	)		-
	Amortization of transition obligation		-			-			-			-			32			-
	Net periodic benefit cost (benefit)	$	(498	)	$	589		$	(369	)	$	564		$	(370	)	$	539
Weighted average assumptions used	The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations at December 31 of the respective years:
		2014						2013
		U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
	Discount rate		4	%		2.25	%		5	%		3.44	%
	Rate of compensation increase		0	%		2.87	%		0	%		3.19	%
	The following weighted average assumptions were used to determine the net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014						2013
		U.S. Plans			Non-U.S.			U.S. Plans			Non-U.S. Plans
					Plans
	Discount rate		5	%		3.44	%		4	%		3.8	%
	Rate of compensation increase		0	%		3.19	%		0	%		3.2	%
Estimated future benefit payments	Note 11 – Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (continued)
	Estimated future benefit payments are as follows:
		U.S.			Non-U.S.
		Plans			Plans
	2015	$	666		$	349
	2016		706			235
	2017		722			348
	2018		712			356
	2019		695			544
	2020-2024		3,088			3,136

ShareBased_Compensation_Tables

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Summary of recognized stock-based compensation expense	The following table summarizes share-based compensation expense recognized:
			Years ended December 31,
			2014				2013			2012
	Restricted stock units		$	2,261			$	510		$	3,378
	Stock options			-				18			73
	Phantom stock units			131				108			93
	Total		$	2,392			$	636		$	3,544
Schedule of unrecognized compensation cost, nonvested awards	The following table summarizes unrecognized compensation cost and the weighted average remaining amortization periods at December 31, 2014 (amortization periods in years):
			Unrecognized Compensation Cost				Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Periods
	Stock options		$	-				0
	Restricted stock units			10,118				0.9
	Phantom stock units			-				0
	Total		$	10,118
Schedule of share based compensation, stock options, activity	The following table summarizes the Company's stock option activity (number of options in thousands):
			Years ended December 31,
			2014							2013					2012
			Number of Options				Weighted Average Exercise Price			Number of Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number of Options			Weighted Average Exercise Price
	Outstanding:
	Beginning of year			109			$	15.24			109		$	15.24		384		$	15.4
	Granted			-				-			-			-		-			-
	Exercised			(4	)			11.62			-			-		(22	)		7.89
	Cancelled or forfeited			-				-			-			-		(253	)		16.12
	End of year			105			$	15.38			109		$	15.24		109		$	15.24
	Vested and expected to vest			105							109					109
	Exercisable:
	End of year			105							109					79
Stock options outstanding and exercisable summarized by ranges of exercise prices	The following table summarizes information concerning stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2014 (number of options in thousands, contractual life in years):
	Options Outstanding & Exercisable
	Exercise Price				Number of Options			Remaining
								Contractual Life
	$	12.9				28			2.16
		16.29				77			2.39
	$	15.38				105			2.33
Unvested stock options	The following table summarizes information concerning unvested stock options (number of options in thousands):
			Years ended December 31,
			2014							2013					2012
			Number of Options				Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value			Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value		Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value
	Unvested:
	Beginning of year			-			$	-			30		$	10.14		61		$	9.96
	Granted			-				-			-			-		-			-
	Vested			-				-			(30	)		10.14		(31	)		9.79
	End of year			-			$	-			-		$	-		30		$	10.14
Restricted Stock Units Activity	RSU activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 is presented below (number of RSUs in thousands):
			Years ended December 31,
			2014							2013					2012
			Number of RSUs				Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value			Number of			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value		Number of			Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value
										RSUs					RSUs
	Outstanding:
	Beginning of year			1,059			$	13.4			1,316		$	12.53		891		$	12.58
	Granted			336				13.48			374			12.76		437			12.31
	Vested*			(146	)			15.87			(598	)		10.92		(12	)		8.29
	Cancelled or forfeited			(102	)			17.45			(33	)		16.54		-			-
	End of year			1,147			$	12.75			1,059		$	13.4		1,316		$	12.53
	Expected to vest			649							570					1,040
	* The number of RSUs vested includes shares that the Company withheld on behalf of employees to satisfy statutory tax withholding requirements.
Schedule of share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, performance-based units, vested and expected to vest	The number of performance-based RSUs scheduled to vest on January 1, 2015 is fixed based on the full achievement of the defined target performance criteria. The number of performance-based RSUs scheduled to vest on January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017 increases ratably based on the achievement of defined performance criteria between the established target and maximum levels.  RSUs with performance-based vesting criteria are expected to vest as follows (number of RSUs in thousands):
	Vesting Date		Expected to Vest				Not Expected to Vest			Total
	January 1, 2015**			-				276			276
	1-Jan-16			-				222			222
	1-Jan-17			192				-			192
	** The performance vesting criteria for the performance-based RSUs with a vesting date of January 1, 2015 were not achieved.
Phantom stock units activity under the 2007 Program	The following table summarizes the Company's phantom stock units activity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 (number of phantom stock units in thousands):
			Years ended December 31,
			2014							2013					2012
			Number				Grant-			Number			Grant-		Number			Grant-
			of				date			of			date		of			date
			Phantom				Fair Value per Unit			Phantom			Fair Value per Unit		Phantom			Fair Value per Unit
			Stock Units							Stock Units					Stock Units
	Outstanding:
	Beginning of year			107							97					87
	Granted			10			$	13.12			10		$	10.75		10		$	9.33
	Dividend equivalents issued			2							-					-
	Redeemed for common stock			-							-					-
	End of year			119							107					97

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Future minimum lease payments for operating leases	Future minimum lease payments for operating leases with initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows:
	2015	$	25,921
	2016		17,931
	2017		13,025
	2018		2,477
	2019		1,708
	Thereafter		1,574

Current_Vulnerability_Due_to_C1

Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Geographic Concentration [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations	The Company has operations outside the United States, and approximately 76% of revenues earned during 2014 were derived from sales to customers outside the United States. Additionally, as of December 31, 2014, $1,100,025 of the Company's cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were held in countries outside of the United States. Some of the Company's products are produced and cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are held in countries which are subject to risks of political, economic, and military instability. This instability could result in wars, riots, nationalization of industry, currency fluctuations, and labor unrest. These conditions could have an adverse impact on the Company's ability to operate in these regions and, depending on the extent and severity of these conditions, could materially and adversely affect the Company's overall financial condition, operating results, and ability to access its liquidity when needed. As of December 31, 2014 the Company's cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were concentrated in the following countries:
	Germany	41	%
	Israel	26.6	%
	The Republic of China (Taiwan)	9.7	%
	People's Republic of China	8.6	%
	Singapore	7.3	%
	Canada	1.8	%
	United States	1.1	%
	Other Asia	1.6	%
	Other Europe	1.4	%
	Other	0.9	%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations	The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments with various major financial institutions. The Company is exposed to credit risk related to the potential inability to access liquidity in financial institutions where its cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are concentrated. As of December 31, 2014, the following financial institutions held over 10% of the Company's combined cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balance:
	Deutsche Bank	12.6	%
	Bank Hapoalim*	12.4	%
	HSBC*	12.3	%
	Bank Leumi*	10.3	%
	___________________________________________________
	*Participant in Credit Facility

Segment_and_Geographic_Data_Ta

Segment and Geographic Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment and Geographic Data [Abstract]
Segment reporting information	Note 15 –Segment and Geographic Data (continued)
	The following tables set forth business segment information:
		MOSFETs			Diodes			Optoelectronic			Resistors & Inductors		Capacitors		Corporate / Other		Total
								Components
	Year ended December 31, 2014:
	Product sales	$	470,377		$	579,288		$	258,248		$	755,251	$	425,593	$	-	$	2,488,757
	Royalty revenues		160			-			-			4,365		-		-	$	4,525
	Total revenue	$	470,537		$	579,288		$	258,248		$	759,616	$	425,593	$	-	$	2,493,282
	Gross Margin	$	59,614		$	132,021		$	91,165		$	241,090	$	87,402	$	-	$	611,292
	Depreciation expense	$	53,939		$	39,592		$	13,266		$	32,380	$	20,524	$	1,103	$	160,804
	Interest expense (income)		-			21			41			119		18		24,258	$	24,457
	Capital expenditures		33,672			41,713			23,008			42,950		12,694		2,937	$	156,974
	Total Assets as of December 31, 2014:	$	499,550		$	732,502		$	422,257		$	812,664	$	605,281	$	226,519	$	3,298,773
	Year ended December 31, 2013:
	Product sales	$	449,299		$	547,264		$	228,194		$	700,115	$	439,745	$	-	$	2,364,617
	Royalty revenues		178			-			51			6,133		-		-	$	6,362
	Total revenue	$	449,477		$	547,264		$	228,245		$	706,248	$	439,745	$	-	$	2,370,979
	Gross Margin	$	59,387		$	121,231		$	76,732		$	221,851	$	88,059	$	-	$	567,260
	Depreciation expense	$	50,606		$	37,305		$	12,484		$	31,998	$	21,596	$	1,075	$	155,064
	Interest expense (income)		-			54			122			79		28		22,847	$	23,130
	Capital expenditures		41,869			44,431			18,310			32,515		13,052		2,900	$	153,077
	Total Assets as of December 31, 2013:	$	543,037		$	788,121		$	213,128		$	843,685	$	636,637	$	212,531	$	3,237,139
	Year ended December 31, 2012:
	Product sales	$	433,436		$	496,744		$	209,141		$	635,488	$	448,157	$	-	$	2,222,966
	Royalty revenues		246			-			53			6,832		-		-	$	7,131
	Total revenue	$	433,682		$	496,744		$	209,194		$	642,320	$	448,157	$	-	$	2,230,097
	Gross Margin	$	56,694		$	99,116		$	67,943		$	204,137	$	98,783	$	-	$	526,673
	Depreciation expense	$	49,124		$	36,335		$	11,917		$	31,921	$	23,354	$	1,150	$	153,801
	Interest expense (income)		-			64			140			543		52		21,805	$	22,604
	Capital expenditures		49,201			30,025			16,759			35,878		15,531		2,897	$	150,291
	Total Assets as of December 31, 2012:	$	625,597		$	670,811		$	199,385		$	760,257	$	587,586	$	172,641	$	3,016,277
Operating margin reconciliation	Note 15 –Segment and Geographic Data (continued)
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Operating margin reconciliation:
	MOSFETs	$	21,095		$	19,140		$	17,198
	Diodes		106,068			96,581			75,733
	Optoelectronic Components		73,463			62,259			54,632
	Resistors & Inductors		203,343			186,583			172,129
	Capacitors		62,460			64,494			76,858
	Restructuring and Severance Costs		(20,897	)		(2,814	)		-
	U.S. Pension Settlement Charges		(15,588	)		-			-
	Gain on Sale of Property		-			-			12,153
	Executive Compensation Credit (Charges)		-			1,778			-
	Unallocated Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses		(240,833	)		(230,339	)		(219,502	)
	Consolidated Operating Income (Loss)	$	189,111		$	197,682		$	189,201
	See Note 4 for restructuring and severance costs segment information.
Revenues Based on Geographic Area	The following table summarizes net revenues based on revenues generated by subsidiaries located within the identified geographic area:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	United States	$	590,145		$	591,082		$	568,849
	Germany		821,005			800,733			775,204
	Other Europe		107,598			89,348			61,236
	Israel		13,871			13,319			14,708
	Asia		960,663			876,497			810,100
		$	2,493,282		$	2,370,979		$	2,230,097
Property and Equipment Based on Geographic Area	The following table summarizes property and equipment based on physical location:
		December 31,
		2014			2013
	United States	$	116,807		$	123,812
	Germany		124,850			130,854
	Czech Republic		38,914			47,002
	Other Europe		94,377			107,381
	Israel		121,691			138,741
	People's Republic of China		176,671			172,274
	Republic of China (Taiwan)		127,354			120,368
	Other Asia		95,263			84,388
	Other		2,168			1,799
		$	898,095		$	926,619

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (shares in thousands):
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Numerator:
	Numerator for basic earnings per share:
	Net earnings	$	117,629	$	122,980	$	122,738
	Adjustment to the numerator for continuing operations and net earnings:
	Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive convertible and exchangeable notes, net of tax		59		140		293
	Numerator for diluted earnings per share:
	Net earnings	$	117,688	$	123,120	$	123,031
	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic earnings per share:
	Weighted average shares		147,448		144,856		149,020
	Outstanding phantom stock units		119		107		97
	Adjusted weighted average shares		147,567		144,963		149,117
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments		5,890		6,130		6,176
	Restricted stock units		252		320		549
	Other		7		4		2
	Dilutive potential common shares		6,149		6,454		6,727
	Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
	Adjusted weighted average shares		153,716		151,417		155,844
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.8	$	0.85	$	0.82
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders	$	0.77	$	0.81	$	0.79
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share	Note 16 – Earnings Per Share (continued)
	Diluted earnings per share for the years presented do not reflect the following weighted average potential common shares, as the effect would be antidilutive (in thousands):
		Years ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Convertible and exchangeable notes:
	Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2040		-		19,809		19,809
	Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2041		7,944		7,885		7,885
	Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2042		-		-		7,434
	Weighted average employee stock options		77		91		177
	Weighted average warrants		-		-		8,390
	Weighted average other		135		385		282

Additional_Cash_Flow_Informati1

Additional Cash Flow Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Additional Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired consists of the following:
		Years ended December 31,
		2014			2013			2012
	Accounts receivable	$	(731	)	$	(16,870	)	$	33,004
	Inventories		(23,753	)		(31,246	)		(186	)
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(5,031	)		19,160			2,977
	Accounts payable		9,339			11,087			(9,408	)
	Other current liabilities		(18,064	)		7,860			(31,539	)
	Net change in operating assets and liabilities	$	(38,240	)	$	(10,009	)	$	(5,152	)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Schedule of fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring basis	The following table provides the financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
		Total Fair Value			Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	31-Dec-14
	Assets:
	Assets held in rabbi trusts	$	40,270		$	26,853	$	13,417	$	-
	Available for sale securities	$	15,432			4,439		10,993		-
	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	26,601			26,601		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	244,037			242,749		1,288		-
	Cash	$	3,006			3,006		-		-
	Non - U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	9,268			9,268		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	18,269			18,269		-		-
	Cash	$	21,619			21,619		-		-
		$	378,502		$	352,804	$	25,698	$	-
	Liabilities:
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2040	$	(526	)		-		-		(526	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2041	$	(341	)		-		-		(341	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2042	$	(238	)		-		-		(238	)
		$	(1,105	)	$	-	$	-	$	(1,105	)
	31-Dec-13
	Assets:
	Assets held in rabbi trusts	$	36,992		$	24,064	$	12,928	$	-
	Available for sale securities	$	7,356			7,356		-		-
	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	51,666			51,666		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	241,827			194,777		47,050		-
	Real Estate Investment Trust securities		1,969			1,969		-		-
	Cash	$	171			171		-		-
	Non - U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets:
	Equity securities	$	9,911			9,911		-		-
	Fixed income securities	$	16,117			16,117		-		-
	Cash	$	22,831			22,831		-		-
		$	388,840		$	328,862	$	59,978	$	-
	Liabilities:
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2040	$	(491	)		-		-		(491	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2041	$	(349	)		-		-		(349	)
	Embedded derivative - convertible debentures due 2042	$	(197	)		-		-		(197	)
		$	(1,037	)	$	-	$	-	$	(1,037	)

Summary_of_Quarterly_Financial1

Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Information		2014									2013
		First		Second		Third		Fourth			First			Second		Third			Fourth
	Statement of Operations data:
	Net revenues	$	602,378	$	641,929	$	638,211	$	610,764		$	554,254		$	597,665	$	602,890		$	616,170
	Gross profit		145,283		164,093		158,392		143,524			136,761			142,857		143,220			144,449
	Operating income		42,572		57,923		45,459		43,157			45,605			51,890		53,153			47,034
	Net earnings		25,964		35,832		26,977		29,070			29,141			31,485		32,869			30,274
	Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		154		190		6		(136	)		210			176		150			253
	Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders		25,810		35,642		26,971		29,206			28,931			31,309		32,719			30,021
	Per Share data:
	Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (a)	$	0.17	$	0.24	$	0.18	$	0.2		$	0.2		$	0.22	$	0.23		$	0.2
	Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (a)	$	0.17	$	0.23	$	0.17	$	0.19		$	0.19		$	0.21	$	0.22		$	0.2
	Certain Items Recorded during the Quarters:
	Operating income (loss):
	Restructuring and severance costs	$	6,404	$	9,014	$	3,508	$	1,971		$	-		$	-	$	-		$	(2,814	)
	U.S. pension settlement charges	$	-	$	-	$	15,588	$	-		$	-		$	-	$	-		$	-
	Executive compensation credit	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-		$	-		$	1,778	$	-		$	-
	Discrete tax expense (benefit)	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	(1,228	)	$	(1,330	)	$	-	$	(2,867	)	$	-
	Quarter end date (b)	29-Mar		28-Jun		27-Sep		31-Dec			30-Mar			29-Jun		28-Sep			31-Dec
	(a) May not add due to differences in weighted average share counts.
	(b) The Company reports interim financial information for 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Minimum ownership of entities that do not have a non-controlling interest (in hundredths)	100.00%
Royalty revenues	$4,525	$6,362	$7,131
Research and development expense	65,299	62,090	57,164
Minimum number of months until maturity from original purchase date for a highly liquid investment to be considered a short-term investment (in months)	3 months
Bad debt expense	-424	62	-24
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated cost to complete construction in progress	40,980
Depreciation expense	160,804	155,064	153,801
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Cash and investments restricted for potential insurance claims	7,309	7,927
Outstanding claim accrual	0	0
Goodwill impairment charge	$0	$0	$0
Minimum [Member] | Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	7 years
Minimum [Member] | Capitalized Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Non-competition Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	3 years
Maximum [Member] | Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	25 years
Maximum [Member] | Capitalized Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Non-competition Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	10 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	7 years
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	10 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	20 years
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful Life	40 years

Acquisition_and_Divestiture_Ac2

Acquisition and Divestiture Activities (Details)

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2014

Sep. 27, 2014

Sep. 27, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Sep. 01, 2014

Jul. 11, 2014

Jul. 11, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Sep. 01, 2014

Sep. 01, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Sep. 01, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Sep. 01, 2014

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

MCB Industrie [Member]

HiRel Systems [Member]

Holy Stone Polytech [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]

Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]

Capitalized Software [Member]

Customer Relationships [Member]

Customer Relationships [Member]

Tradenames [Member]

Tradenames [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

TWD

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

Capella [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Business Acquisition, Equity Interests Issued or Issuable [Line Items]

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

$197,986

$23,034

$85,493

$23,034

$85,493

$20,576

$177,410

Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired

5,433

43,950

3,736

Goodwill related to acquisitions

7,985

25,815

6,328

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life

10 years

7 years

7 years

Number of shares acquired

38,703,705

Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired

88.95%

Gross purchase price of acquired business

180,167

Acquired cash and short-term investments

50,195

Borrowings to fund acquisition

53,000

Acquisition of noncontrolling interests

-21,067

0

0

21,067

Business Acquisition, Transaction Costs

843

Business Acquisition, Name of Acquired Entity

MCB Industrie S.A.

HiRel Systems LLC

Holy Stone Polytech Co., Ltd.

Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) Inc.

Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement

11-Jul-14

Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition

13-Jun-13

13-Jan-12

11-Jun-14

Business Acquisition, Share Price

139

Offered purchase price

205,000

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue

2,522,010

2,446,503

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)

114,510

128,252

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Basic

$0.78

$0.88

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted

$0.75

$0.85

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill, Total

74,481

14,870

101

54,400

5,110

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total

4,134

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent

-16,769

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Other

-454

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Marketable Securities

47,438

Business Combination, Acquisition of Less than 100 Percent, Noncontrolling Interest, Fair Value

21,895

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net, Total

102,456

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Total

-6,374

Goodwill

$144,359

$43,132

$34,866

$96,849

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$43,132	$34,866
Exchange rate effects	-1,950	281
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	144,359	43,132	34,866
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	20,359	20,359
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	357,307	286,086
Accumulated amortization	-191,053	-176,494
Net Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	166,254	109,592
Intangible assets, net	186,613	129,951
Amortization expense (excluding capitalized software)	18,651	15,068	14,754
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2015	27,235
2016	25,593
2017	21,757
2018	18,377
2019	14,396
Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	108,190	92,842
Accumulated amortization	-71,700	-66,337
Capitalized Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	53,369	55,893
Accumulated amortization	-45,979	-50,006
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	153,853	99,558
Accumulated amortization	-50,630	-40,727
Tradenames [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	39,612	35,845
Accumulated amortization	-21,384	-18,560
Non-competition Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	2,283	1,948
Accumulated amortization	-1,360	-864
HiRel Systems [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period			25,815
Other intangible assets related to acquisitions			43,950
MCB Industrie [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period		7,985
Other intangible assets related to acquisitions		5,433
Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	96,849
Holy Stone Polytech [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	6,328
Other intangible assets related to acquisitions	3,736
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	43,132	34,866
Exchange rate effects	-986	281
Balance at end of period	42,146	43,132
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] | MCB Industrie [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period		7,985
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] | Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	0
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] | Holy Stone Polytech [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	0
Capacitors Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Exchange rate effects	-964	0
Balance at end of period	5,364	0
Capacitors Segment [Member] | MCB Industrie [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period		0
Capacitors Segment [Member] | Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	0
Capacitors Segment [Member] | Holy Stone Polytech [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	6,328
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Exchange rate effects	0	0
Balance at end of period	96,849	0
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member] | MCB Industrie [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period		0
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member] | Capella Microsystems (Taiwan) Inc. [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	96,849
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member] | Holy Stone Polytech [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill acquired during period	$0

Restructuring_and_Related_Acti2

Restructuring and Related Activities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 03, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related expense	($1,971)	($3,508)	($9,014)	($6,404)	$2,814	$0	$0	$0	$20,897	$2,814
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs									20,897	2,814	0
Expected Restructuring Costs	32,000								32,000
Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	271,554				274,083				271,554	274,083
Gain on Sale of Property									0	0	-12,153
Proceeds from sale of long lived assets held for sale									2,889	4,681	10,241
Belguim [Member]
Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	1,771								1,771
Gain on Sale of Property											12,153
Proceeds from sale of long lived assets held for sale											3,406
Sale price of long lived assets held for sale												14,200
MOSFETs Enhanced Competitiveness Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring	786								786
Restructuring and related expense									6,025	2,328
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs									6,025	2,328
Cash paid									-856	-267
Foreign currency translation									0	0
Balance at end of period	7,230				2,061				7,230	2,061
Term of restructuring program									2 years
Expected Restructuring Costs	16,000								16,000
Voluntary Separation/Retirement Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring	4,674								4,674
Restructuring and related expense									12,792	486
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs									12,792	486
Cash paid									-8,054	-98
Foreign currency translation									-455	3
Balance at end of period	4,674				391				4,674	391
Modules Product Transfer [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring	1,495								1,495
Restructuring and related expense									2,080	0
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs									2,080
Cash paid									-464
Foreign currency translation									-121
Balance at end of period	$1,495								$1,495

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2008
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes and noncontrolling interests [Abstract]
Domestic									($50,106)	($26,065)	($15,995)
Foreign									217,249	202,470	186,032
Income before taxes									167,143	176,405	170,037
Current income tax expense:
Federal									-27,031	-603	8,409
State and local									386	280	574
Foreign									60,282	51,225	44,351
Total current income tax expense									33,637	50,902	53,334
Deferred income tax expense:
Federal									7,999	2,215	-8,557
State and local									204	92	-240
Foreign									7,460	-573	1,969
Total deferred income tax expense									15,663	1,734	-6,828
Total income tax expense									49,300	52,636	46,506
Deferred tax assets:
Pension and other retiree obligations	43,393				34,343				43,393	34,343
Inventories	8,013				8,759				8,013	8,759
Net operating loss carryforwards	198,677				182,691				198,677	182,691
Tax credit carryforwards	25,046				20,780				25,046	20,780
Other accruals and reserves	32,376				31,469				32,376	31,469
Total gross deferred tax assets	307,505				278,042				307,505	278,042
Less valuation allowance	-186,614				-183,289				-186,614	-183,289
Deferred tax assets, net	120,891				94,753				120,891	94,753
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax over book depreciation	-10,257				-10,652				-10,257	-10,652
Intangible assets other than goodwill	-20,507				-1,539				-20,507	-1,539
Earnings not permanently reinvested	-25,334				-1,652				-25,334	-1,652
Convertible debentures	-175,935				-162,371				-175,935	-162,371
Other - net	-3,590				-2,741				-3,590	-2,741
Total gross deferred tax liabilities	-235,623				-178,955				-235,623	-178,955
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)	-114,732				-84,202				-114,732	-84,202
Reconciliation of income tax expense at federal statutory rate to actual income tax provision [Abstract]
Tax at statutory rate									58,500	61,742	59,513
State income taxes, net of U.S. federal tax benefit									384	242	217
Effect of foreign operations									-27,372	-18,696	-19,083
Tax on earnings not permanently reinvested									25,728	0	0
Unrecognized tax benefits									-21,603	2,862	6,626
Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax asset									0	-285	-4,036
Foreign income taxable in the U.S.									13,499	11,961	7,476
U.S. foreign tax credits									0	0	-4,257
Effect of statutory rate changes on deferred tax assets									226	-2,867	0
Other									-62	-2,323	50
Total income tax expense									49,300	52,636	46,506
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible, Estimated Range of Change, Lower Bound	2,400								2,400
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible, Estimated Range of Change, Upper Bound	2,700								2,700
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Discrete Tax Items Included Income Tax Expense	-1,228	0	0	0	0	-2,867	0	-1,330	-1,228	-4,197	-4,036
Income tax uncertainties [Abstract]
Cash repatriated during the current period									4,588		72,100
Foreign earnings without provision for US Tax	2,686,284								2,686,284
Additional expected repatriation												112,500
Net income taxes paid (refunded)									62,051	44,757	46,611
Company accrued interest and penalties related to the unrecognized tax benefits	3,104				7,766				3,104	7,766
Company recognized interest and penalties.									1,839	2,218	2,833
Unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year				45,877				51,771	45,877	51,771	48,152
Addition based on tax positions related to the current year									1,641	0	665
Addition based on tax positions related to prior years									6,484	4,015	3,498
Currency translation adjustments									-1,387	310	-215
Reduction based on tax positions related to prior years									0	-2,054	0
Reduction for settlements									-3,556	-7,316	-329
Reduction for lapses of statute of limitation									-22,476	-849	0
Balance at end of year	26,583				45,877				26,583	45,877	51,771
California Research Credit [Member]
Available tax credit carryforwards [Abstract]
California Research Credit	10,926								10,926
Expiration Date									No expiration
U.S. Foreign Tax Credit [Member]
Available tax credit carryforwards [Abstract]
Federal Alternative Minimum Tax	11,093								11,093
Minimum [Member] | U.S. Foreign Tax Credit [Member]
Available tax credit carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration Date									2020
Maximum [Member] | U.S. Foreign Tax Credit [Member]
Available tax credit carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration Date									2022
AUSTRIA [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	14,515								14,515
Expiration date									No expiration
BELGIUM [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	173,541								173,541
Expiration date									No expiration
BRAZIL [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	14,876								14,876
Expiration date									No expiration
Germany [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	42,968								42,968
Expiration date									No expiration
Israel [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	62,528								62,528
Expiration date									No expiration
NETHERLANDS [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	23,411								23,411
NETHERLANDS [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2015
NETHERLANDS [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2023
California [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	53,979								53,979
California [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2016
California [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2034
Pennsylvania [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	736,159								736,159
Pennsylvania [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2018
Pennsylvania [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2034
United States [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	78,784								78,784
United States [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2033
United States [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Expiration date									2034
BCcomponents acquisition [Member]
Net operating loss carryforwards [Abstract]
Net operating loss carryforward	64,232								64,232
Valuation allowances									$21,833	$24,788

LongTerm_Debt_Details

Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 06, 2010	Dec. 13, 2002
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$454,922	$364,911
Credit facility	200,000	114,000
Less current portion	0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion	454,922	364,911
Liability and equity components of convertible debentures [Abstract]
Principal amount of the debentures	575,000	575,000
Unamortized discount	-359,825	-363,768
Embedded derivative	1,105	1,037
Carrying value of liability component	216,280	212,269
Equity component - net carrying value	230,214	230,214
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest	12,938	12,938	11,541
Non-cash amortization of debt discount	3,943	3,646	3,028
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	189	189	165
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	68	-266	81
Total interest expense related to the debentures	17,138	16,507	14,815
Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
2015	0
2016	0
2017	0
2018	200,000
2019	0
Thereafter	613,642
Interest paid	18,394	17,647	16,578
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	640,000
Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date	8-Aug-13
Expiration date	8-Aug-18
Maximum incremental revolving commitments	50,000
Interest rate description	Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (bLIBORb) plus an interest margin. The applicable interest margin is based on the Company's leverage ratio. Based on the Company's current leverage ratio, borrowings bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%. The interest rate on the Companybs borrowings will increase to LIBOR plus 2.00% if the Companybs leverage ratio equals or exceeds 2.50 to 1 and will decrease to LIBOR plus 1.50% if the Companybs leverage ratio decreases below 1.50 to 1. Vishay is also required to pay facility fees on the entire commitment amount based on the Company's leverage ratio. Based on the Company's current leverage ratio, the facility fee is 0.35% per annum. Such facility fee will increase to 0.50% per annum if the Companybs leverage ratio equals or exceeds 2.50 to 1 and will decrease to 0.30% per annum if the leverage ratio decreases below 1.50 to 1.
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	1.75%
Commitment fees (in hundredths)	0.35%
Covenant terms	The Credit Facility permits the Company to repurchase shares of its common stock or pay cash dividends up to a permitted capacity, conditioned upon Vishay maintaining (i) a pro forma leverage ratio of 2.75 to 1.00, (ii) a pro forma interest expense coverage ratio of 2.00 to 1.00, and (iii) $300,000 of available liquidity, as defined in the Credit Facility. The permitted capacity to repurchase shares of the Company's outstanding common stock or pay cash dividends under the Credit Facility increases each quarter by an amount equal to 20% of net income. At December 31, 2014, the Credit Facility allows the Company to repurchase its common stock or pay cash dividends up to $192,733 (See Note 7). The amount and timing of any future stock repurchases or cash dividends remains subject to authorization of the Company's Board of Directors.
Available liquidity	300,000
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.
Permitted stock repurchase or cash dividend payment capacity under credit facility	192,733
Available borrowing capacity	432,445	518,345
Letters of credit outstanding	7,555	7,655
Committed and uncommitted short-term credit lines	16,700	27,400
Credit facility accelerated repayment minimum judgement	25,000
Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	2.00%
Commitment fees (in hundredths)	0.50%
Basis increase upon leverage ratio decrease (in hundredths)	2.5
Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	1.50%
Commitment fees (in hundredths)	0.30%
Basis increase upon leverage ratio decrease (in hundredths)	1.5
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	$15.39
Principal amount of notes exchanged		56,400
Common shares issued for conversion of exchangeable notes		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)	2,511,742
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent	103,841	101,846
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date	9-Nov-10
Debt maturity date	15-Nov-40
Cash coupon rate	2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance	8.00%
Effective conversion rate	73.2147
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share)	$13.66
130% of the conversion price	$17.76
Convertible senior debentures call date	20-Nov-20
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	-171,685	-173,645
Embedded derivative	526	491
Carrying value of liability component	103,841	101,846
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	1,960	1,811	1,675
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	88	88	88
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	35	-131	28
Total interest expense related to the debentures	8,271	7,956	7,979
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent	53,249	52,264
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date	13-May-11
Debt maturity date	15-May-41
Cash coupon rate	2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance	8.38%
Effective conversion rate	53.4282
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share)	$18.72
130% of the conversion price	$24.34
Convertible senior debentures call date	20-May-21
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	-97,092	-98,085
Embedded derivative	341	349
Carrying value of liability component	53,249	52,264
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	993	915	843
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	47	47	45
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	-8	-50	7
Total interest expense related to the debentures	4,407	4,287	4,270
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent	59,190	58,159
Debt Instruments [Abstract]
Convertible senior debentures issuance date	31-May-12
Debt maturity date	1-Jun-42
Cash coupon rate	2.25%
Nonconvertible debt borrowing rate at issuance	7.50%
Effective conversion rate	86.0829
Effective conversion price (in dollars per share)	$11.62
130% of the conversion price	$15.11
Convertible senior debentures call date	7-Jun-22
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	-91,048	-92,038
Embedded derivative	238	197
Carrying value of liability component	59,190	58,159
Equity component - net carrying value	57,874	57,874
Interest expense related to debentures [Abstract]
Contractual coupon interest	3,375	3,375	1,978
Non-cash amortization of debt discount	990	920	510
Non-cash amortization of deferred financing costs	54	54	32
Non-cash change in value of derivative liability	41	-85	46
Total interest expense related to the debentures	$4,460	$4,264	$2,566
Debt instrument percentage of conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Cash dividends per share	$0.06		$0.06	$0.06	$0.06	$0.24		$0	$0
Permitted stock repurchase or cash dividend payment capacity under credit facility	$192,733					$192,733
Shares reserved (in shares)	66,211,582					66,211,582
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)	12,129,227	[1]				12,129,227	[1]
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)	1,147,000					1,147,000
Available to grant 2007 Stock Incentive Program - [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	3,693,000					3,693,000
Phantom stock units outstanding [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	119,000					119,000
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)	22,685,258					22,685,258
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)						20,134,043
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	9,070,490	[1]				9,070,490	[1]
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)						8,014,230
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares reserved (in shares)	14,750,865	[1]				14,750,865	[1]
Number of shares debentures are convertible into (in shares)						12,912,435
[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.

Other_Income_Expense_Details

Other Income (Expense) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	($1,115)	($993)	($3,654)
Interest income	4,939	4,566	7,626
Other	-1,335	-1,720	-532
Other Income (expense)	$2,489	$1,853	$3,440

Other_Accrued_Expenses_Details

Other Accrued Expenses (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Other Accrued Expenses (Tables) [Abstract]
Sales returns and allowances	$35,203	$34,465
Goods received, not yet invoiced	28,645	36,692
Other	73,728	75,513
Total other accrued expenses	$137,576	$146,670

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$61,634	($10,222)	$3,778
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-164,722	76,995	-40,671
Tax effect	17,359	-16,633	15,984
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax	-147,363	60,362	-24,687
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI	25,526	17,093	16,059
Tax effect	-8,937	-5,599	-5,372
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax	16,589	11,494	10,687
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-130,774	71,856	-14,000
Ending Balance	-69,140	61,634	-10,222
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Actuarial Items [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	-129,918	-178,956	-149,197
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-60,602	52,545	-57,072
Tax effect	18,117	-16,334	16,626
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax	-42,485	36,211	-40,446
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI	25,604	19,112	16,059
Tax effect	-8,961	-6,285	-5,372
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax	16,643	12,827	10,687
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-25,842	49,038	-29,759
Ending Balance	-155,760	-129,918	-178,956
Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	190,998	167,461	152,894
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-106,295	23,537	14,567
Tax effect	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax	-106,295	23,537	14,567
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI	0	0	0
Tax effect	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-106,295	23,537	14,567
Ending Balance	84,703	190,998	167,461
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	554	1,273	81
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	2,175	913	1,834
Tax effect	-758	-299	-642
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax	1,417	614	1,192
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI	-78	-2,019	0
Tax effect	24	686	0
Amounts reclassified out of AOCI, net of tax	-54	-1,333	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,363	-719	1,192
Ending Balance	$1,917	$554	$1,273

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassifications (Details) (Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities [Member], Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Rabbi Trust Assets [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Component of Selling, General, and Administrative Expense	$24	$1,966	$0
Other AFS Securities [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Component of Other Income	$54	$53	$0

Pensions_and_Other_Postretirem2

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Change in benefit obligation [Roll forward]
Increase in PBO due to new actuarial tables									$24,000
Amounts recognized in balance sheet associated with retirement benefit plans [Abstract]
Included in other assets	13,176				15,965				13,176	15,965
Included in "Accrued Payroll"	-7,690				-8,333				-7,690	-8,333
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	-300,524				-287,901				-300,524	-287,901
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	174,975				141,500				174,975	141,500
Components of actuarial items [Abstract]
Total actuarial items	174,975				141,500				174,975	141,500
Components of net periodic pension cost [Abstract]
Curtailment and settlement losses (gains)	0	15,588	0	0	0	0	0	0	15,588	0	0
Amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension cost during next fiscal year									13,700
Estimated future benefit payments [Abstract]
Estimated future employer contributions to U.S. defined benefit pension plans in next fiscal year, minimum	15,000								15,000
Estimated future employer contributions to U.S. defined benefit pension plans in next fiscal year, maximum	20,000								20,000
Other retirement obligations [Abstract]
Company's matching expense for 401(k) savings plans									5,285	5,276	4,230
Deferred Compensation [Member]
Defined benefit pension plans [Abstract]
Assets held in trust	14,906				14,093				14,906	14,093
Non-qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined benefit pension plans [Abstract]
Assets held in trust	21,757				18,678				21,757	18,678
Dr. Felix Zandman [Member] | Non-qualified Pension Plans [Member]
Defined benefit pension plans [Abstract]
Assets held in trust	3,607				4,221				3,607	4,221
Deferred compensation arrangement, annual retirement benefit to surviving spouse	614								614
Equity Securities [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	10.00%								10.00%
Debt Securities [Member]
Actual plan asset allocations [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	90.00%								90.00%
U.S. Pension Plans [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year				315,373				355,065	315,373	355,065
Service cost									0	0	0
Interest cost									13,821	13,882	15,699
Acquisitions									0	0
Plan amendments and initiations									0	0
Actuarial (gains) losses									50,584	-34,703
Benefits paid									-18,940	-18,871
Curtailments and settlements									-59,363	0
Currency translation									0	0
Benefit obligation at end of year	301,475				315,373				301,475	315,373	355,065
Number of pension plan participants for whom annuity contracts were purchased									700
Participants who accepted voluntary lump-sum offer									800
Reduction of plan participants									1,500
Percentage of total participants									23.00%
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year				295,633				265,866	295,633	265,866
Actual return on plan assets									38,688	31,018
Acquisitions of plan assets									0	0
Company contributions									17,626	17,620
Benefits paid									-18,940	-18,871
Curtailments and settlements									-59,363	0
Currency translation									0	0
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	273,644				295,633				273,644	295,633	265,866
Funded status at end of year	-27,831				-19,740				-27,831	-19,740
Amounts recognized in balance sheet associated with retirement benefit plans [Abstract]
Included in other assets	12,964				15,708				12,964	15,708
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Current Liabilities	-51				-51				-51	-51
Included in "Accrued Payroll"	-51				-51				-51	-51
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	-40,744				-35,397				-40,744	-35,397
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	88,474				84,384				88,474	84,384
Total	60,643				64,644				60,643	64,644
Components of actuarial items [Abstract]
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)	87,195				83,161				87,195	83,161
Unamortized prior service (credit) cost	1,279				1,223				1,279	1,223
Total actuarial items	88,474				84,384				88,474	84,384
Projected and accumulated benefit obligations [Abstract]
Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans	301,475				315,373				301,475	315,373
Plans for which the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation	40,795				35,448				40,795	35,448
Accumulated benefit obligation	40,795				35,448				40,795	35,448
Fair value of plan assets	0				0				0	0
Components of net periodic pension cost [Abstract]
Net service cost									0	0	0
Interest cost									13,821	13,882	15,699
Expected return on plan assets									-14,892	-19,124	-18,972
Amortization of actuarial losses									7,166	14,566	12,960
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost									-56	978	2,200
Curtailment and settlement losses (gains)									15,588	0	0
Net periodic benefit cost									21,627	10,302	11,887
Weighted average assumptions used to calculate benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.00%				5.00%				4.00%	5.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	0.00%				0.00%				0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)									4.85%	4.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)									0.00%	0.00%
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)									5.29%	7.25%
Estimated future benefit payments [Abstract]
2015	15,691								15,691
2016	16,037								16,037
2017	16,420								16,420
2018	23,084								23,084
2019	18,683								18,683
2020-2024	91,834								91,834
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	3,006				171				3,006	171
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	26,601				51,666				26,601	51,666
U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	244,037				241,827				244,037	241,827
Non-U.S. Pension Plans [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year				280,526				282,448	280,526	282,448
Service cost									3,275	3,499	3,247
Interest cost									8,555	8,150	9,374
Acquisitions									465	0
Plan amendments and initiations									0	23
Actuarial (gains) losses									40,021	-5,134
Benefits paid									-15,888	-13,980
Curtailments and settlements									-486	0
Currency translation									-29,622	5,520
Benefit obligation at end of year	286,846				280,526				286,846	280,526	282,448
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year				48,859				46,580	48,859	46,580
Actual return on plan assets									1,858	2,482
Acquisitions of plan assets									10	0
Company contributions									17,015	14,781
Benefits paid									-15,888	-13,980
Curtailments and settlements									-486	0
Currency translation									-2,212	-1,004
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	49,156				48,859				49,156	48,859	46,580
Funded status at end of year	-237,690				-231,667				-237,690	-231,667
Amounts recognized in balance sheet associated with retirement benefit plans [Abstract]
Included in other assets	212				257				212	257
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Current Liabilities	-6,624				-7,644				-6,624	-7,644
Included in "Accrued Payroll"	-6,624				-7,644				-6,624	-7,644
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	-231,278				-224,280				-231,278	-224,280
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	88,076				61,652				88,076	61,652
Total	-149,614				-170,015				-149,614	-170,015
Components of actuarial items [Abstract]
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)	88,076				61,652				88,076	61,652
Unamortized prior service (credit) cost	0				0				0	0
Total actuarial items	88,076				61,652				88,076	61,652
Projected and accumulated benefit obligations [Abstract]
Accumulated benefit obligation, all plans	269,069				260,558				269,069	260,558
Plans for which the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds plan assets [Abstract]
Projected benefit obligation	272,977				251,569				272,977	251,569
Accumulated benefit obligation	261,996				238,419				261,996	238,419
Fair value of plan assets	37,634				21,356				37,634	21,356
Components of net periodic pension cost [Abstract]
Net service cost									3,275	3,499	3,247
Interest cost									8,555	8,150	9,374
Expected return on plan assets									-2,109	-2,084	-1,667
Amortization of actuarial losses									2,700	3,407	1,681
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost									-5	-12	60
Curtailment and settlement losses (gains)									1,137	959	0
Net periodic benefit cost									13,553	13,919	12,695
Weighted average assumptions used to calculate benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)	2.15%				3.11%				2.15%	3.11%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	1.97%				1.99%				1.97%	1.99%
Weighted average assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)									3.11%	3.04%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)									1.99%	1.48%
Expected return on plan assets (in hundredths)									3.85%	4.44%
Estimated future benefit payments [Abstract]
2015	14,140								14,140
2016	14,230								14,230
2017	16,247								16,247
2018	14,968								14,968
2019	16,036								16,036
2020-2024	80,418								80,418
Non-U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	21,619				22,831				21,619	22,831
Non-U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	9,268				9,911				9,268	9,911
Non-U.S. Pension Plans [Member] | Debt Securities [Member]
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	18,269				16,117				18,269	16,117
U.S. Postretirement Plans [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year				7,341				8,157	7,341	8,157
Service cost									115	111	106
Interest cost									351	314	366
Plan amendments and initiations									0	0
Actuarial (gains) losses									1,492	-639
Benefits paid									-622	-602
Currency translation									0	0
Benefit obligation at end of year	8,677				7,341				8,677	7,341	8,157
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year				0					0
Benefits paid									-622	-602
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0				0				0	0
Funded status at end of year	-8,677				-7,341				-8,677	-7,341
Amounts recognized in balance sheet associated with retirement benefit plans [Abstract]
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Current Liabilities	-666				-638				-666	-638
Included in "Accrued Payroll"	-666				-638				-666	-638
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	-8,011				-6,703				-8,011	-6,703
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-3,325				-5,782				-3,325	-5,782
Total	-12,002				-13,123				-12,002	-13,123
Components of actuarial items [Abstract]
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)	-668				-2,301				-668	-2,301
Unamortized prior service (credit) cost	-2,657				-3,481				-2,657	-3,481
Total actuarial items	-3,325				-5,782				-3,325	-5,782
Components of net periodic pension cost [Abstract]
Net service cost									115	111	106
Interest cost									351	314	366
Amortization of actuarial losses									-140	4	-76
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost									-824	-798	-798
Amortization of transition obligation									0	0	32
Net periodic benefit cost									-498	-369	-370
Weighted average assumptions used to calculate benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)	4.00%				5.00%				4.00%	5.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	0.00%				0.00%				0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)									5.00%	4.00%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)									0.00%	0.00%
Estimated future benefit payments [Abstract]
2015	666								666
2016	706								706
2017	722								722
2018	712								712
2019	695								695
2020-2024	3,088								3,088
Other postretirement benefits [Abstract]
Number of unfunded non-pension postretirement plans	2								2
Non-U.S. Postretirement Plans [Member]
Change in benefit obligation [Roll forward]
Benefit obligation at beginning of year				7,504				6,964	7,504	6,964
Service cost									307	299	253
Interest cost									244	257	286
Plan amendments and initiations									0	0
Actuarial (gains) losses									752	398
Benefits paid									-565	-740
Currency translation									-959	326
Benefit obligation at end of year	7,283				7,504				7,283	7,504	6,964
Change in plan assets [Roll forward]
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year				0					0
Benefits paid									-565	-740
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	0				0				0	0
Funded status at end of year	-7,283				-7,504				-7,283	-7,504
Amounts recognized in balance sheet associated with retirement benefit plans [Abstract]
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Current Liabilities	-349				0				-349	0
Included in "Accrued Payroll"	-349				0				-349	0
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	-6,934				-7,504				-6,934	-7,504
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	1,750				1,246				1,750	1,246
Total	-5,533				-6,258				-5,533	-6,258
Components of actuarial items [Abstract]
Unrecognized net actuarial loss (gain)	1,750				1,246				1,750	1,246
Unamortized prior service (credit) cost	0				0				0	0
Total actuarial items	1,750				1,246				1,750	1,246
Components of net periodic pension cost [Abstract]
Net service cost									307	299	253
Interest cost									244	257	286
Amortization of actuarial losses									38	8	0
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost									0	0	0
Amortization of transition obligation									0	0	0
Net periodic benefit cost									589	564	539
Weighted average assumptions used to calculate benefit obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)	2.25%				3.44%				2.25%	3.44%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)	2.87%				3.19%				2.87%	3.19%
Weighted average assumptions used calculating net periodic benefit cost [Abstract]
Discount rate (in hundredths)									3.44%	3.80%
Rate of compensation increase (in hundredths)									3.19%	3.20%
Estimated future benefit payments [Abstract]
2015	349								349
2016	235								235
2017	348								348
2018	356								356
2019	544								544
2020-2024	3,136								3,136
Other postretirement benefits [Abstract]
Number of European subsidiaries with unfunded non-pension postretirement plans	2								2
Other Retirement Obligations [Member]
Amounts recognized in balance sheet associated with retirement benefit plans [Abstract]
Accrued pension and other postretirement costs	($13,557)				($14,017)				($13,557)	($14,017)

ShareBased_Compensation_Detail

Share-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense recognized	$2,392	$636	$3,544
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	10,118
Unrecognized compensation cost not expected to be recognized	6,485
Expiration date of 2007 Stock Incentive Plan	20-May-24
Outstanding:
Balance (in shares)	109,000	109,000	384,000
Beginning Balance, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$15.24	$15.24	$15.40
Granted (in shares)	0	0	0
Granted, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0
Exercised (in shares)	-4,337	0	-22,095
Exercised, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$11.62	$0	$7.89
Cancelled or forfeited (in shares)	0	0	-253,000
Cancelled or forfeited, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$16.12
Balance (in shares)	105,000	109,000	109,000
Ending balance, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$15.38	$15.24	$15.24
Vested and expected to vest (in shares)	105,000	109,000	109,000
Exercisable (in shares)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number	105,000	109,000	79,000
Weighted-average remaining contractual life of all exercisable options (in years)	2 years 3 months 29 days
Stock price per share (in dollars per share)	$14.15
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, options, exercisable, intrinsic value	35
Intrinsic value under share based compensation scheme	18	0	110
Unvested:
Balance (in shares)	0	30,000	61,000
Granted (in shares)	0	0	0
Vested (in shares)	0	-30,000	-31,000
Balance (in shares)	0	0	30,000
Beginning balance, weighted average exercise price of unvested options (in dollars)	$0	$10.14	$9.96
Granted, weighted average Grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0
Vested, weighted average Grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$0	$10.14	$9.79
Ending balance, weighted average exercise price of unvested options (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$10.14
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options outstanding, number of options (in shares)	105,000
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	2 years 3 months 29 days
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$15.38
$12.90 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options outstanding, number of options (in shares)	28,000
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	2 years 1 month 28 days
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$12.90
$16.29 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options outstanding, number of options (in shares)	77,000
Options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual life (in years)	2 years 4 months 20 days
Options outstanding, weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share)	$16.29
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense recognized	0	18	73
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	0
Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Periods (in years)	0 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense recognized	2,261	510	3,378
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	10,118
Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Periods (in years)	0 years 10 months 24 days
Exercisable (in shares)
Expected to vest	649,000	570,000	1,040,000
Outstanding:
Balance (in shares)	1,059,000	1,316,000	891,000
Granted (in shares)	336,000	374,000	437,000
Vested (in shares)	-146,000	-598,000	-12,000
Cancelled or forfeited (in shares)	-102,000	-33,000	0
Balance (in shares)	1,147,000	1,059,000	1,316,000
Beginning balance, Weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$13.40	$12.53	$12.58
Granted, Weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$13.48	$12.76	$12.31
Vested, Weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$15.87	$10.92	$8.29
Forfeitures, Weighted average grant date fair value	$17.45	$16.54	$0
Ending balance, Weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$12.75	$13.40	$12.53
Phantom Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense recognized	131	108	93
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	0
Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Periods (in years)	0 years
Outstanding:
Balance (in shares)	107,000	97,000	87,000
Granted (in shares)	10,000	10,000	10,000
Dividend equivalents issued	2,000	0	0
Redeemed for common stock (in shares)	0	0	0
Balance (in shares)	119,000	107,000	97,000
Granted, Weighted average grant-date fair value (in dollars per share)	$13.12	$10.75	$9.33
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units [Member] | Not Expected to Vest [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Cost		$1,778
Outstanding:
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	75.00%
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units [Member] | Scheduled to Vest January 1, 2015 [Member]
Exercisable (in shares)
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Not Expected To Vest Outstanding Number	276,000
Expected to vest	0
Outstanding:
Balance (in shares)	276,000
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units [Member] | Scheduled to Vest January 1, 2016 [Member]
Exercisable (in shares)
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Not Expected To Vest Outstanding Number	222,000
Expected to vest	0
Outstanding:
Balance (in shares)	222,000
Performance Vested Restricted Stock Units [Member] | Scheduled to Vest January 1, 2017 [Member]
Exercisable (in shares)
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Not Expected To Vest Outstanding Number	0
Expected to vest	192,000
Outstanding:
Balance (in shares)	192,000
1998 Stock Option Program [Member]
Outstanding:
Balance (in shares)	95,000
2007 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum number of shares authorized under restricted stock, unrestricted stock, RSU's and stock options to officers, employees and non-employee directors (in shares)	6,500,000
Exercisable (in shares)
Available for future grants (in shares)	3,693,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Total rental expense under operating leases									$28,088	$29,327	$29,667
Future minimum lease payments for operating leases [Abstract]
2015	25,921								25,921
2016	17,931								17,931
2017	13,025								13,025
2018	2,477								2,477
2019	1,708								1,708
Thereafter	1,574								1,574
Environmental Matters
Accrued environmental liabilities	19,947								19,947
Accrued environmental liabilities, current	10,613								10,613
Accrued environmental liabilities, noncurrent	9,334								9,334
Executive Employment Agreements
Period of royalty payment following termination of employment (in years)									10 years
Royalty Payment Percentage (in hundredths)									5.00%
Present value of royalties, minimum													370,000
Present value of royalties, maximum													445,000
Executive payment made upon amended and restated agreement												10,000
Annual Executive Payment									10,000
Executive compensation credit	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,778	0	0	-1,778	0
Minimum [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Range of typical unrecorded purchase commitments	30,000								30,000
Maximum [Member]
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation [Line Items]
Range of typical unrecorded purchase commitments	40,000								40,000
General Semiconductor [Member]
Environmental Matters
Accrued environmental liabilities	11,975								11,975
Other Sites [Member]
Environmental Matters
Accrued environmental liabilities	$7,972								$7,972

Current_Vulnerability_Due_to_C2

Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Duration of business operations in Israel (in years)	P44Y
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Bank Hapoalim
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	12.40%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Bank Leumi [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	10.30%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | HSBC [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	12.30%
Credit Concentration Risk [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Deutsche Bank [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	12.60%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Outside Of United States [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	1,100,025
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | United States [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	1.10%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Germany [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	41.00%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Other Europe [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	1.40%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Israel [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	26.60%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | People's Republic Of China [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	8.60%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Other Asia [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	1.60%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Other [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	0.90%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Singapore [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	7.30%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | The Republic of China (Taiwan)
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	9.70%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments [Member] | Canada [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	1.80%
Geographic Concentration [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Outside Of United States [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	76.00%
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Accounts Receivable [Member]
Concentration Risks [Abstract]
Concentration risk percentage (in hundredths)	14.70%	13.90%

Segment_and_Geographic_Data_De

Segment and Geographic Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
									Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments									5
Segment Operating Income Description									The Company evaluates business segment performance on operating income, exclusive of certain items ("segment operating income"). Only dedicated, direct selling, general, and administrative expenses of the segments are included in the calculation of segment operating income. The Company's calculation of segment operating income excludes such selling, general, and administrative costs as global operations, sales and marketing, information systems, finance and administration groups, as well as restructuring and severance costs, executive compensation charges (credits), material gains or losses on sales of property, and other items. Management believes that evaluating segment performance excluding such items is meaningful because it provides insight with respect to intrinsic operating results of the Company. These items represent reconciling items between segment operating income and consolidated operating income. Business segment assets are the owned or allocated assets used by each business.
Product sales									$2,488,757	$2,364,617	$2,222,966
Royalty revenues									4,525	6,362	7,131
Total revenue	610,764	638,211	641,929	602,378	616,170	602,890	597,665	554,254	2,493,282	2,370,979	2,230,097
Gross Margin	143,524	158,392	164,093	145,283	144,449	143,220	142,857	136,761	611,292	567,260	526,673
Depreciation expense									160,804	155,064	153,801
Interest expense (income)									24,457	23,130	22,604
Capital expenditures									156,974	153,077	150,291
Total Assets	3,298,773				3,237,139				3,298,773	3,237,139	3,016,277
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Restructuring and severance costs									-20,897	-2,814	0
U.S. pension settlement charges	0	-15,588	0	0	0	0	0	0	-15,588	0	0
Gain on Sale of Property									0	0	12,153
Executive Compensation Credit (Charges)	0	0	0	0	0	0	-1,778	0	0	1,778	0
Operating Income									189,111	197,682	189,201
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Restructuring and severance costs									-20,897	-2,814	0
U.S. pension settlement charges									-15,588	0	0
Gain on Sale of Property									0	0	12,153
Executive Compensation Credit (Charges)									0	1,778	0
MOSFETS Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									470,377	449,299	433,436
Royalty revenues									160	178	246
Total revenue									470,537	449,477	433,682
Gross Margin									59,614	59,387	56,694
Depreciation expense									53,939	50,606	49,124
Interest expense (income)									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									33,672	41,869	49,201
Total Assets	499,550				543,037				499,550	543,037	625,597
MOSFETS Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									21,095	19,140	17,198
Diodes Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									579,288	547,264	496,744
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									579,288	547,264	496,744
Gross Margin									132,021	121,231	99,116
Depreciation expense									39,592	37,305	36,335
Interest expense (income)									21	54	64
Capital expenditures									41,713	44,431	30,025
Total Assets	732,502				788,121				732,502	788,121	670,811
Diodes Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									106,068	96,581	75,733
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									258,248	228,194	209,141
Royalty revenues									0	51	53
Total revenue									258,248	228,245	209,194
Gross Margin									91,165	76,732	67,943
Depreciation expense									13,266	12,484	11,917
Interest expense (income)									41	122	140
Capital expenditures									23,008	18,310	16,759
Total Assets	422,257				213,128				422,257	213,128	199,385
Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									73,463	62,259	54,632
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									755,251	700,115	635,488
Royalty revenues									4,365	6,133	6,832
Total revenue									759,616	706,248	642,320
Gross Margin									241,090	221,851	204,137
Depreciation expense									32,380	31,998	31,921
Interest expense (income)									119	79	543
Capital expenditures									42,950	32,515	35,878
Total Assets	812,664				843,685				812,664	843,685	760,257
Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									203,343	186,583	172,129
Capacitors Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									425,593	439,745	448,157
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									425,593	439,745	448,157
Gross Margin									87,402	88,059	98,783
Depreciation expense									20,524	21,596	23,354
Interest expense (income)									18	28	52
Capital expenditures									12,694	13,052	15,531
Total Assets	605,281				636,637				605,281	636,637	587,586
Capacitors Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									62,460	64,494	76,858
Corporate Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales									0	0	0
Royalty revenues									0	0	0
Total revenue									0	0	0
Gross Margin									0	0	0
Depreciation expense									1,103	1,075	1,150
Interest expense (income)									24,258	22,847	21,805
Capital expenditures									2,937	2,900	2,897
Total Assets	226,519				212,531				226,519	212,531	172,641
Unallocated Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses [Member] | Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Operating margin reconciliation [Abstract]
Operating Income									($240,833)	($230,339)	($219,502)

Segment_and_Geographic_Data_Re

Segment and Geographic Data, Revenue and assets by geographic area (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2013	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues	$610,764	$638,211	$641,929	$602,378	$616,170	$602,890	$597,665	$554,254	$2,493,282	$2,370,979	$2,230,097
Property and equipment, net	898,095				926,619				898,095	926,619
United States [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues									590,145	591,082	568,849
Property and equipment, net	116,807				123,812				116,807	123,812
Germany [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues									821,005	800,733	775,204
Property and equipment, net	124,850				130,854				124,850	130,854
Czech Republic [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	38,914				47,002				38,914	47,002
Other Europe [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues									107,598	89,348	61,236
Property and equipment, net	94,377				107,381				94,377	107,381
Israel [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues									13,871	13,319	14,708
Property and equipment, net	121,691				138,741				121,691	138,741
Asia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net revenues									960,663	876,497	810,100
People's Republic of China [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	176,671				172,274				176,671	172,274
Republic of China (Taiwan) [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	127,354				120,368				127,354	120,368
Other Asia [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	95,263				84,388				95,263	84,388
Other Geographic Area [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	$2,168				$1,799				$2,168	$1,799

Earnings_Per_Share_Details

Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014		Jun. 28, 2014		Mar. 29, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 28, 2013		Jun. 29, 2013		Mar. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Numerator for basic earnings (loss) per share:
Net earnings attributable to Vishay stockholders	$29,206		$26,971		$35,642		$25,810		$30,021		$32,719		$31,309		$28,931		$117,629	$122,980	$122,738
Adjustment to the numerator for continuing operations and net earnings (loss):
Interest savings assuming conversion of dilutive convertible and exchangeable notes, net of tax																	59	140	293
Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Net earnings (loss)																	$117,688	$123,120	$123,031
Denominator for basic earnings (loss) per share:
Weighted Average Number of Shares Issued, Basic																	147,448	144,856	149,020
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Participating Nonvested Shares with Non-forfeitable Dividend Rights																	119	107	97
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)																	147,567	144,963	149,117
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible and exchangeable debt instruments (in shares)																	5,890	6,130	6,176
Restricted stock units (in shares)																	252	320	549
Other (in shares)																	7	4	2
Dilutive potential common shares (in shares)																	6,149	6,454	6,727
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Adjusted weighted average shares (in shares)																	153,716	151,417	155,844
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$0.20	[1]	$0.18	[1]	$0.24	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$0.23	[1]	$0.22	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$0.80	$0.85	$0.82
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders (in dollars per share)	$0.19	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.23	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$0.22	[1]	$0.21	[1]	$0.19	[1]	$0.77	$0.81	$0.79
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	0	19,809	19,809
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)	$13.66																$13.66
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	7,944	7,885	7,885
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)	$18.72																$18.72
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	0	0	7,434
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)	$11.62																$11.62
Weighted average stock options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	77	91	177
Weighted average warrants [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	0	0	8,390
Weighted average other [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount (in shares)																	135	385	282
[1]	May not add due to differences in weighted average share counts.

Additional_Cash_Flow_Informati2

Additional Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of businesses acquired [Abstract]
Accounts receivable	($731)	($16,870)	$33,004
Inventories	-23,753	-31,246	-186
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-5,031	19,160	2,977
Accounts payable	9,339	11,087	-9,408
Other current liabilities	-18,064	7,860	-31,539
Net change in operating assets and liabilities	($38,240)	($10,009)	($5,152)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets:
Held-to-maturity Securities, Transferred Security, at Carrying Value	$0
Held-to-maturity Securities, Unrecognized Holding Gain	0
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Held-to-maturity Securities	0
Assets held in rabbi trusts	40,270	36,992
Available for sale securities	15,432	7,356
Fair Value Assets	378,502	388,840
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	-1,105	-1,037
Embedded derivative	-1,105	-1,037
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	853,500	750,700
Long-term Debt	453,817	363,874
Derivative, Notional Amount	48,000
Derivative, Description of Terms	Beginnin in the third fiscal quarter of 2014, the Company entered into forward contracts with a highly-rated financial institution to mitigate the foreign currency risk associated with an intercompany loan denominated in a currency other than the legal entity's functional currency. The notional amount of the forward contracts was $48,000 as of December 31, 2014. The intercompany loan was used to finance a portion of the purchase price for Capella. The forward contracts settle monthly and are expected to be renewed at the Company's discretion on a monthly basis until the intercompany loan is repaid. The forward contract was renewed on the last day of the third fiscal quarter. We have not designated the forward contract as a hedge for accounting purposes, and as such the change in the fair value of the contract is recognized in the consolidated condensed statements of operations as a component of other income (expense).
U.S. Plans [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	273,644	295,633	265,866
U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	26,601	51,666
U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	244,037	241,827
U.S. Plans [Member] | Real Estate Investment Trust Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets		1,969
U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	3,006	171
Non-U.S. Plans [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	49,156	48,859	46,580
Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	9,268	9,911
Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	18,269	16,117
Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	21,619	22,831
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	26,853	24,064
Available for sale securities	4,439	7,356
Fair Value Assets	352,804	328,862
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	26,601	51,666
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	242,749	194,777
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Real Estate Investment Trust Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets		1,969
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	3,006	171
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	9,268	9,911
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	18,269	16,117
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	21,619	22,831
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	13,417	12,928
Available for sale securities	10,993	0
Fair Value Assets	25,698	59,978
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	1,288	47,050
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Real Estate Investment Trust Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets:
Assets held in rabbi trusts	0	0
Available for sale securities	0	0
Fair Value Assets	0	0
Liabilities:
Fair Value Liabilities	-1,105	-1,037
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Real Estate Investment Trust Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Equity Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Fixed Income Securities [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Non-U.S. Plans [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Assets:
Fair value of plan assets	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	-526	-491
Convertible debentures issuance date	9-Nov-10
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2040 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	-526	-491
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	-341	-349
Convertible debentures issuance date	13-May-11
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures, Due 2041 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	-341	-349
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	-238	-197
Convertible debentures issuance date	31-May-12
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	0	0
Convertible Senior Debentures 2042 [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities:
Embedded derivative	($238)	($197)

Related_Party_Transactions_Det

Related Party Transactions (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010
Common Class B [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Ratio for stock dividend for Vishay Precision Group, Inc	1 share of VPG Class B common stock for every 14 shares of Vishay Class B common stock
Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Ratio for stock dividend for Vishay Precision Group, Inc	1 share of VPG common stock for every 14 shares of Vishay common stock

Summary_of_Quarterly_Financial2

Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014		Jun. 28, 2014		Mar. 29, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 28, 2013		Jun. 29, 2013		Mar. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Operations data:
Net revenues	$610,764		$638,211		$641,929		$602,378		$616,170		$602,890		$597,665		$554,254		$2,493,282	$2,370,979	$2,230,097
Gross profit	143,524		158,392		164,093		145,283		144,449		143,220		142,857		136,761		611,292	567,260	526,673
Operating Income	43,157		45,459		57,923		42,572		47,034		53,153		51,890		45,605		189,111	197,682	189,201
Net earnings	29,070		26,977		35,832		25,964		30,274		32,869		31,485		29,141		117,843	123,769	123,531
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-136		6		190		154		253		150		176		210		214	789	793
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Vishay stockholders	29,206		26,971		35,642		25,810		30,021		32,719		31,309		28,931		117,629	122,980	122,738
Per Share data:
Basic earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders:	$0.20	[1]	$0.18	[1]	$0.24	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$0.23	[1]	$0.22	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$0.80	$0.85	$0.82
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Vishay stockholders:	$0.19	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.23	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$0.22	[1]	$0.21	[1]	$0.19	[1]	$0.77	$0.81	$0.79
Operating income (loss):
Restructuring and severance costs	1,971		3,508		9,014		6,404		-2,814		0		0		0		-20,897	-2,814
U.S. pension settlement charges	0		15,588		0		0		0		0		0		0		15,588	0	0
Gain on Sale of Property																	0	0	12,153
Executive compensation credit	0		0		0		0		0		0		1,778		0		0	-1,778	0
Discrete Tax Items Included Income Tax Expense	($1,228)		$0		$0		$0		$0		($2,867)		$0		($1,330)		($1,228)	($4,197)	($4,036)
Quarter end date	31-Dec-14	[2]	27-Sep-14	[2]	28-Jun-14	[2]	29-Mar-14	[2]	31-Dec-13	[2]	28-Sep-13	[2]	29-Jun-13	[2]	30-Mar-13	[2]	31-Dec-14
Number of weeks in an interim reporting period																	P91D
[1]	May not add due to differences in weighted average share counts.
[2]	The Company reports interim financial information for 13-week periods beginning on a Sunday and ending on a Saturday, except for the first fiscal quarter, which always begins on January 1, and the fourth fiscal quarter, which always ends on December 31.