Schedule of Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	$ 1,429,773	$ 1,304,867
U.S. Treasury Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	942,250	902,800
Corporate Debt Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	118,487	100,153
Certificates of Deposit and Time Deposits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	95,469	82,133
Commercial Paper
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	194,948	161,630
U.S. Government Agency Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	55,938	39,252
Equity And Debt Mutual Funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	22,104	18,171
Non-U.S. Government Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	577	728
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	1,848,450	1,612,751
Derivative assets	157	1
Total	1,848,607	1,612,752
Contingent consideration	39,129	38,332
Derivative liabilities	190	131
Total	39,319	38,463
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Cash
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Cash and cash equivalents	213,664	214,722
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Cash Equivalents
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Cash and cash equivalents	205,013	93,162
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| U.S. Treasury Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	942,250	902,800
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Corporate Debt Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	118,487	100,153
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Certificates of Deposit and Time Deposits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	95,469	82,133
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Commercial Paper
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	194,948	161,630
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| U.S. Government Agency Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	55,938	39,252
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Equity And Debt Mutual Funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	22,104	18,171
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Non-U.S. Government Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	577	728
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	402,571	270,351
Total	402,571	270,351
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Cash
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Cash and cash equivalents	213,664	214,722
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Cash Equivalents
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Cash and cash equivalents	166,803	37,458
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Instruments (Level 1) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Equity And Debt Mutual Funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	22,104	18,171
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Total	1,445,879	1,342,400
Derivative assets	157	1
Total	1,446,036	1,342,401
Derivative liabilities	190	131
Total	190	131
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Cash Equivalents
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Cash and cash equivalents	38,210	55,704
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| U.S. Treasury Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	942,250	902,800
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Corporate Debt Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	118,487	100,153
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Certificates of Deposit and Time Deposits
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	95,469	82,133
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Commercial Paper
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	194,948	161,630
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| U.S. Government Agency Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	55,938	39,252
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Non-U.S. Government Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Available for sale securities	577	728
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis
Contingent consideration	39,129	38,332
Total	$ 39,129	$ 38,332

Cash and cash equivalents and available for sale securities fair value disclosure.

No definition available.

Name:	ter_CashAndCashEquivalentsAndAvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	ter_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75030427&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (aa)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82896770&loc=d3e26610-111562

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911338&loc=d3e6819-128478

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13495-108611

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82849420&loc=SL20226008-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82849420&loc=SL20226008-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13495-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77997519&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial and nonfinancial obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_USGovernmentCorporationsAndAgenciesSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=ter_EquityAndDebtMutualFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_ForeignCorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: