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v2.4.1.9

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Apr. 04, 2015 | Mar. 29, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 350,021,000 us-gaap_Goodwill |  | $ 354,838,000 us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill foreign currency translation adjustments | (5,000,000)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets, gross | 541,407,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill |  | 574,114,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization | 328,299,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization |  | 341,743,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Weighted-average useful life of acquired intangible assets | 8 years |  | 8 years
Intangible assets, gross foreign currency translation adjustments | (42,000,000)wat_IntangibleAssetsGrossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments |  |
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization foreign currency translation adjustments | (24,000,000)wat_IntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments |  |
Amortization expense | 11,000,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredCharges | 12,000,000 us-gaap_AmortizationOfDeferredCharges |
Future amortization expense, year 1 | 44,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths |  |
Future amortization expense, year 2 | 44,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo |  |
Future amortization expense, year 3 | 44,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree |  |
Future amortization expense, year 4 | 44,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour |  |
Future amortization expense, year 5 | 44,000,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive |  |
Capitalized software [Member] |  |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets, gross | 308,213,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareDevelopmentMember |  | 334,280,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareDevelopmentMember
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization | 183,036,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareDevelopmentMember |  | 196,477,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_SoftwareDevelopmentMember
Weighted-average useful life of acquired intangible assets | 7 years |  | 7 years
Purchased intangibles [Member] |  |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets, gross | 158,050,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PurchasedIntangiblesMember |  | 163,855,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PurchasedIntangiblesMember
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization | 111,965,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PurchasedIntangiblesMember |  | 112,279,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PurchasedIntangiblesMember
Weighted-average useful life of acquired intangible assets | 11 years |  | 11 years
Trademarks and IPR&D[Member] |  |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets, gross | 13,857,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_NewElementMember |  | 14,095,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_NewElementMember
Licenses [Member] |  |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets, gross | 5,390,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember |  | 5,371,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization | 3,620,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember |  | 3,634,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Weighted-average useful life of acquired intangible assets | 6 years |  | 6 years
Patents and other intangibles [Member] |  |  |
Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Intangible assets, gross | 55,897,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PatentsAndOtherIntangiblesMember |  | 56,513,000 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PatentsAndOtherIntangiblesMember
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization | $ 29,678,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PatentsAndOtherIntangiblesMember |  | $ 29,353,000 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / wat_IntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = wat_PatentsAndOtherIntangiblesMember
Weighted-average useful life of acquired intangible assets | 8 years |  | 8 years

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