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Marketable Securities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Apr. 04, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | $ 1,796,472 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis | $ 1,700,666 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis
Unrealized Gain | 2,511 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains | 441 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains
Unrealized Loss | (148)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses | (845)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses
Fair Value | 1,798,835 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue | 1,700,262 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue
Debt securities due in one year or less | 897,303 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsDebtMaturitiesNextRollingTwelveMonthsFairValue | 872,872 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsDebtMaturitiesNextRollingTwelveMonthsFairValue
Debt securities due after one year through three years | 837,120 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsDebtMaturitiesRollingYearTwoThroughFiveFairValue | 763,003 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsDebtMaturitiesRollingYearTwoThroughFiveFairValue
Total debt securities | 1,734,423 wat_DebtSecurities | 1,635,875 wat_DebtSecurities
Cash Equivalents [Member] |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 130,588 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember | 67,051 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
Fair Value | 130,588 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember | 67,051 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_CashEquivalentsMember
Investments [Member] |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 1,665,884 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember | 1,633,615 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Unrealized Gain | 2,511 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember | 441 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Unrealized Loss | (148)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember | (845)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Fair Value | 1,668,247 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember | 1,633,211 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsClassificationAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
US Treasury Securities |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 640,441 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 626,683 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain | 1,270 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 246 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Unrealized Loss | (18)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | (157)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Fair Value | 641,693 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 626,772 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Foreign Government Debt Securities |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 24,994 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 24,998 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Fair Value | 24,994 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 24,998 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Corporate Debt Securities |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 1,066,695 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 984,668 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain | 1,171 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 125 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Unrealized Loss | (130)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | (688)wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedLosses / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Fair Value | 1,067,736 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 984,105 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Time Deposits |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 64,265 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_BankTimeDepositsMember | 64,240 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_BankTimeDepositsMember
Fair Value | 64,265 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_BankTimeDepositsMember | 64,240 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_BankTimeDepositsMember
Equity Securities |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized Cost | 77 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 77 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsAmortizedCostBasis / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Unrealized Gain | 70 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 70 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsGrossUnrealizedGains / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Fair Value | $ 147 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | $ 147 wat_CashEquivalentsAndInvestmentsFairValue / wat_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsTypeAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember

X
- Definition This item represents the cost of cash equivalents and debt and equity securities, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of debt securities at fair value maturing in the next rolling twelve months following the latest balance sheet presented. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents cash equivalents and short-term investments as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
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