XML 51 R72.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Retirement Plans (Details 12) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
U. S. Pension Plans And U. S. Retiree Healthcare Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Discount rate assumptions used in calculating projected benefit obligation | 4.82% | 3.90% | 4.33%
Rate of compensation increase assumptions used in calculating projected benefit obligation | 4.75% | 4.75% | 4.75%
Discount rate assumptions used in calculating net periodic pension cost | 3.61% | 4.26% | 5.10%
Return on assets assumptions used in calculating net periodic pension cost | 6.94% | 7.12% | 7.20%
Rate of compensation increase assumptions used in calculating net periodic pension cost | 4.75% | 4.75% | 4.75%
Non-U.S. Pension Plans |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Discount rate assumptions used in calculating projected benefit obligation | 3.29% | 3.10% | 3.29%
Rate of compensation increase assumptions used in calculating projected benefit obligation | 2.54% | 2.59% | 2.91%
Discount rate assumptions used in calculating net periodic pension cost | 3.10% | 3.29% | 3.63%
Return on assets assumptions used in calculating net periodic pension cost | 2.40% | 1.88% | 2.50%
Rate of compensation increase assumptions used in calculating net periodic pension cost | 2.59% | 2.91% | 2.90%
Waters Retirement Plan [Member] |  |  |
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Effect of one-quarter percentage point increase in discount rate on net periodic benefit cost | less than $1 million |  |
Effect of one-quarter percentage point increase in return on assets on net periodic benefit cost | less than $1 million |  |

X
- Definition The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Expected rate of compensation increases (for pay-related plans). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationRateOfCompensationIncrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition An assumption as to the rate of return on plan assets reflecting the average rate of earnings expected on the funds invested or to be invested to provide for the benefits included in the benefit obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Glossary Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6512013 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostExpectedLongTermReturnOnAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Expected rate of compensation increases (for pay-related plans). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (k)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingNetPeriodicBenefitCostRateOfCompensationIncrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The effect of a one-quarter-percentage-point increase in the assumed discount rate on the net periodic benefit cost. (For purposes of this disclosure, all other assumptions shall be held constant, and the effects shall be measured based on the substantive plan that is the basis for the accounting.) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wat_EffectOfOneQuarterPercentagePointIncreaseInDiscountRateOnNetPeriodicBenefitCost
Namespace Prefix: | wat_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The effect of a one-quarter-percentage-point increase in the assumed return on assets on the net periodic benefit cost. (For purposes of this disclosure, all other assumptions shall be held constant, and the effects shall be measured based on the substantive plan that is the basis for the accounting.) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | wat_EffectOfOneQuarterPercentagePointIncreaseInReturnOnAssetsOnNetPeriodicBenefitCost
Namespace Prefix: | wat_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration