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Income Taxes (Details 3) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance at the beginning of the period | $ 24,716,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 64,390,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 73,199,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities |  | (35,279,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities | (5,625,000)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Other changes in uncertain tax benefits | (5,120,000)wat_OtherChangesInUncertainTaxBenefits | (4,395,000)wat_OtherChangesInUncertainTaxBenefits | (3,184,000)wat_OtherChangesInUncertainTaxBenefits
Unrecognized tax benefits, balance at the end of the period | 19,596,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 24,716,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 64,390,000 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Provision for income tax audit settlement |  | 4,000,000 us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions |
Expected change in unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months | $ (5,000,000)us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit |  |

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- Definition The amount of the unrecognized tax benefit of a position taken for which it is reasonably possible that the total amount thereof will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) to previously recorded tax expense. Includes, but is not limited to, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including tax assessment reversal, and IRS tax settlement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28446-109314 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29652012&loc=d3e28511-109314 + Details
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- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition The amount of (decrease) increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from changes in all other tax positions. + References No definition available. + Details
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