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Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands | Total | Common Stock [Member] | Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] | Treasury Stock [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011 | $ 1,226,578 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | $ 1,528 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | $ 1,089,959 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | $ 3,051,447 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember | $ (2,880,301)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember | $ (36,055)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Number of common shares, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011 | 152,757 us-gaap_SharesIssued |  |  |  |  |
Net income | 461,443 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic |  |  | 461,443 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember |  |
Other comprehensive (loss) income | 9,660 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  |  |  |  | 9,660 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 4,661 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan | 1 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 4,660 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares | 66 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised | 24,208 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised | 6 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 24,202 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised, shares | 630 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised |  |  |  |  |
Tax benefit related to stock option plans | 10,568 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation |  | 10,568 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Increase in valuation allowance | (2,354)wat_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInValuationAllowance |  | (2,354)wat_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInValuationAllowance / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Treasury stock | (295,878)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod |  |  |  | (295,878)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember |
Stock-based compensation | 28,471 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation | 2 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 28,469 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, shares | 243 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation |  |  |  |  |
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012 | 1,467,357 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | 1,537 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 1,155,504 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | 3,512,890 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember | (3,176,179)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember | (26,395)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Number of common shares, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012 | 153,696 us-gaap_SharesIssued |  |  |  |  |
Net income | 450,003 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic |  |  | 450,003 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember |  |
Other comprehensive (loss) income | 32,274 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  |  |  |  | 32,274 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 4,817 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan | 1 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 4,816 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares | 58 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised | 64,141 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised | 13 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 64,128 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised, shares | 1,281 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised |  |  |  |  |
Tax benefit related to stock option plans | 15,842 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation |  | 15,842 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Increase in valuation allowance | (892)wat_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInValuationAllowance |  | (892)wat_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInValuationAllowance / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Treasury stock | (301,580)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod |  |  |  | (301,580)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember |
Stock-based compensation | 31,211 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation | 1 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 31,210 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, shares | 211 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation |  |  |  |  |
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013 | 1,763,173 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | 1,552 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 1,270,608 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | 3,962,893 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember | (3,477,759)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember | 5,879 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Number of common shares, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013 | 155,246 us-gaap_SharesIssued |  |  |  |  |
Net income | 431,620 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic |  |  | 431,620 us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember |  |
Other comprehensive (loss) income | (84,584)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  |  |  |  | (84,584)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan | 5,028 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan | 1 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 5,027 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares | 54 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised | 68,821 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised | 12 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 68,809 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised, shares | 1,185 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised |  |  |  |  |
Tax benefit related to stock option plans | 15,703 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation |  | 15,703 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Treasury stock | (337,444)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod |  |  |  | (337,444)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember |
Stock-based compensation | 32,349 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation | 2 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 32,347 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, shares | 231 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation |  |  |  |  |
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014 | $ 1,894,666 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | $ 1,567 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | $ 1,392,494 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | $ 4,394,513 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember | $ (3,815,203)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember | $ (78,705)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Number of common shares, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014 | 156,716 us-gaap_SharesIssued |  |  |  |  |

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