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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 20 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2013
Programs authorized by Board of Directors [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Programs authorized by Board of Directors [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Programs authorized by Board of Directors [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Related to Vesting of Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Related to Vesting of Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Related to Vesting of Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
May 2012 Program [Member]
May 09, 2012
May 2012 Program [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Internal-Use Software [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum
Buildings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum
Building Improvements [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum
Production and other equipment [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Maximum
Buildings [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Maximum
Building Improvements [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Maximum
Production and other equipment [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Purchased intangibles [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Purchased intangibles [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Purchased intangibles [Member]
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2013
Purchased intangibles [Member]
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2013
Capitalized software [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Capitalized software [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Capitalized software [Member]
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2013
Capitalized software [Member]
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2013
Patents and other intangibles [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Patents and other intangibles [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Patents and other intangibles [Member]
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2013
Patents and other intangibles [Member]
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2013
Unsecured debt [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Unsecured debt [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Held by foreign subsidiaries [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Held by foreign subsidiaries [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
US Treasury Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
US Treasury Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Foreign Government Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Foreign Government Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Corporate Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Corporate Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Time Deposits
Dec. 31, 2012
Time Deposits
Dec. 31, 2013
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
US Treasury Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
US Treasury Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Foreign Government Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Foreign Government Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Corporate Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Corporate Debt Securities
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Time Deposits
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Time Deposits
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Equity Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Equity Securities
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Sales Returns Roll Forward [Abstract]                                                                                                                
Allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns, balance at beginning of period $ 8,240,000 $ 8,584,000 $ 6,196,000                                                                                                          
Additions to allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns 4,386,000 7,298,000 9,932,000                                                                                                          
Deductions from allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns (5,569,000) (7,642,000) (7,544,000)                                                                                                          
Allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns, balance at end of period 7,057,000 8,240,000 8,584,000                                                                                                          
Allowance for doubtful accounts description Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectibility.                                                                                                              
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]                                                                                                                
Consolidated entities The Company consolidates entities in which it owns or controls fifty percent or more of the voting shares.                                                                                                              
Percent of net sales derived from operations outside United States 71.00% 71.00% 71.00%                                                                                                          
Foreign currency transactions disclosures Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in net income in the consolidated statements of operations and were not material for the years presented. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in net income in the consolidated statements of operations and were not material for the years presented. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in net income in the consolidated statements of operations and were not material for the years presented.                                                                                                          
Percent of net sales to pharmaceutical industry 52.00% 53.00% 52.00%                                                                                                          
Cost method of investments disclosures The Company accounts for its investments that represent less than twenty percent ownership, and for which the Company does not have significant influence, using the accounting standards for investments in debt and equity securities. Investments for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, and for which there is not a readily determinable market value, are accounted for under the cost method of accounting. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of its investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and carries them at the lower of cost or estimated net realizable value.                                                                                                              
Equity method of investments disclosures For investments in which the Company owns or controls between twenty and forty-nine percent of the voting shares, or over which it exerts significant influence over operating and financial policies, the equity method of accounting is used. The Company’s share of net income or losses of equity investments is included in the consolidated statements of operations and was not material in any period presented. The Company’s share of net income or losses of equity investments is included in the consolidated statements of operations and was not material in any period presented. The Company’s share of net income or losses of equity investments is included in the consolidated statements of operations and was not material in any period presented.                                                                                                          
Long-term investments 3,000,000 3,000,000                                                                                                            
Advertising expense 11,000,000 13,000,000 11,000,000                                                                                                          
Maximum percentage of net sales to an individual customer 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%                                                                                                          
Derivative [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Notional amount of foreign exchange contracts 104,000,000 134,000,000 161,000,000                                                                                                          
Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses) on forward foreign exchange contracts 9,027,000 5,902,000 (3,268,000)                                                                                                          
Realized gains (losses) on foreign exchange contracts 8,666,000 4,186,000 (2,233,000)                                                                                                          
Unrealized gains (losses) on foreign exchange contracts 361,000 1,716,000 (1,035,000)                                                                                                          
Maturity period of foreign exchange contracts The periods of these forward contracts typically range from one to three months and have varying notional amounts, which are intended to be consistent with changes in the underlying exposures.                                                                                                              
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments, Fair Value 1,399,840,000 1,159,372,000                                                                 556,539,000 470,421,000 139,670,000 313,237,000 629,434,000 311,607,000 74,050,000 64,037,000 147,000 70,000     556,539,000 470,421,000 139,670,000 313,237,000 629,434,000 311,607,000 74,050,000 64,037,000 147,000 70,000
Other cash equivalents 62,851,000 44,850,000                                                                                     62,851,000 44,850,000                    
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets 31,203,000 24,827,000                                                                                     31,203,000 24,827,000                    
Forward foreign exchange contract assets 929,000 1,173,000                                                                                     929,000 1,173,000                    
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis 1,494,823,000 1,230,222,000                                                                                     1,494,823,000 1,230,222,000                    
Forward foreign exchange contract liabilities 88,000 693,000                                                                                     88,000 693,000                    
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis 88,000 693,000                                                                                     88,000 693,000                    
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Cash equivalents description Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, primarily in bank deposits, U.S. and U.K. treasury bill money market funds and commercial paper.                                                                                                              
Cash, cash equivalents and investments 1,804,000,000 1,539,000,000                                                             1,738,000,000 1,489,000,000                                            
Debt [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Long-term debt 1,190,000,000 1,045,000,000                                                         400,000,000 400,000,000                                                
Fair value of debt instrument                                                             398,000,000 413,000,000                                                
Intangible Assets [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Intangible assets, average useful life in years 8 years 7 years                                 10 years 11 years 1 year 15 years 7 years 5 years 3 years 10 years 8 years 8 years 1 year 13 years                                                    
Capitalized software development costs for software sold to customers, net 151,000,000 138,000,000                                                                                                            
Additions to capitalized software development costs for software sold to customers 35,000,000 34,000,000                                                                                                            
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Useful life of property, plant and equipment                       10 years 15 years 5 years 3 years 30 years 10 years 10 years                                                                            
Property, plant and equipment disposition disclosures There were no material gains or losses from retirement or sale of assets in 2013, 2012 and 2011. There were no material gains or losses from retirement or sale of assets in 2013, 2012 and 2011. There were no material gains or losses from retirement or sale of assets in 2013, 2012 and 2011.                                                                                                          
Capitalized costs for sofware developed for internal use, net 3,000,000 3,000,000                                                                                                            
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Stock repurchase program authorization amount                     750,000,000                                                                                          
Treasury stock shares acquired       3.1 3.5 4.5       4.3                                                                                            
Treasury stock 301,580,000 295,878,000 370,835,000 295,000,000 290,000,000 364,000,000 6,000,000 6,000,000 6,000,000 402,000,000                                                                                            
Stock repurchase program remaining amount authorized for future purchases                   348,000,000                                                                                            
Stock repurchase program period, in years                     2 years                                                                                          
Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract]                                                                                                                
Accrued warranty liability, balance at beginning of period 12,353,000 13,258,000 11,272,000                                                                                                          
Accruals for warranties 8,466,000 7,212,000 10,175,000                                                                                                          
Settlements made (7,857,000) (8,117,000) (8,189,000)                                                                                                          
Accrued warranty liability, balance at end of period $ 12,962,000 $ 12,353,000 $ 13,258,000