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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 35 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
May. 31, 2014 | Oct. 03, 2015 | Sep. 27, 2014 | Oct. 03, 2015 | Sep. 27, 2014 | Apr. 04, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notional amount of foreign currency exchange contracts |  | $ 107,000,000 |  | $ 107,000,000 |  |  | $ 110,000,000
Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses) on foreign exchange contracts |  | 739,000 | $ (309,000) | (4,000) | $ (1,366,000) |  |
Realized gains (losses) on foreign exchange contracts |  | 810,000 | (266,000) | 5,000 | (366,000) |  |
Unrealized (losses) gains on foreign exchange contracts |  | (71,000) | (43,000) | (9,000) | (1,000,000) |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 1,943,898,000 |  | 1,943,898,000 |  |  | 1,700,262,000
Other cash equivalents |  | 29,000,000 |  | 29,000,000 |  |  | 29,000,000
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  | 33,842,000 |  | 33,842,000 |  |  | 33,935,000
Foreign currency exchange contract assets |  | 38,000 |  | 38,000 |  |  | 123,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis |  | 2,006,778,000 |  | 2,006,778,000 |  |  | 1,763,320,000
Contingent consideration |  | 4,116,000 |  | 4,116,000 |  |  | 3,612,000
Foreign currency exchange contract liabilities |  | 575,000 |  | 575,000 |  |  | 651,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis |  | 4,691,000 |  | 4,691,000 |  |  | 4,263,000
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real estate impairment |  |  | 4,000,000 |  | 4,000,000 |  |
Fair value of building held-for-sale |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,000,000
Proceeds from sale of building |  |  |  | 5,154,000 |  |  |
Gain on sale of building |  |  |  | $ 1,377,000 |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents description |  |  |  | Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, while investments with longer maturities are classified as investments. |  |  |
Cash, cash equivalents and investments |  | 2,311,000,000 |  | $ 2,311,000,000 |  |  | 2,055,000,000
Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 1,455,000,000 |  | 1,455,000,000 |  |  | 1,240,000,000
Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued warranty liability, balance at beginning of period |  |  |  | 13,266,000 | 12,962,000 |  |
Accruals for warranties |  |  |  | 5,834,000 | 5,292,000 |  |
Settlements made |  |  |  | (5,993,000) | (5,773,000) |  |
Accrued warranty liability, balance at end of period |  | 13,107,000 | $ 12,481,000 | 13,107,000 | $ 12,481,000 |  |
US Treasury Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 629,048,000 |  | 629,048,000 |  |  | 626,772,000
Foreign Government Debt Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24,998,000
Corporate Debt Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 1,233,772,000 |  | 1,233,772,000 |  |  | 984,105,000
Time Deposits |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 80,931,000 |  | 80,931,000 |  |  | 64,240,000
Equity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 147,000 |  | $ 147,000 |  |  | 147,000
Programs authorized by Board of Directors [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Treasury stock shares acquired |  |  |  | 2.0 | 2.4 |  |
Treasury stock |  |  |  | $ 249,000,000 | $ 255,000,000 |  |
Stock repurchase program remaining amount authorized for future purchases |  | 520,000,000 |  | 520,000,000 |  |  |
Related To Vesting Of Restricted Stock Units [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Treasury stock |  |  |  | 6,000,000 | $ 7,000,000 |  |
May 2014 Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program authorization amount | $ 750,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program period, in years | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |
May 2012 Program [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Treasury stock shares acquired |  |  |  |  |  | 7.6 |
Treasury stock |  |  |  |  |  | $ 750,000,000 |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other cash equivalents |  | 29,000,000 |  | 29,000,000 |  |  | 29,000,000
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  | 33,842,000 |  | 33,842,000 |  |  | 33,935,000
Foreign currency exchange contract assets |  | 38,000 |  | 38,000 |  |  | 123,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis |  | 2,006,778,000 |  | 2,006,778,000 |  |  | 1,763,320,000
Foreign currency exchange contract liabilities |  | 575,000 |  | 575,000 |  |  | 651,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis |  | 575,000 |  | 575,000 |  |  | 651,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | US Treasury Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 629,048,000 |  | 629,048,000 |  |  | 626,772,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Foreign Government Debt Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24,998,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Corporate Debt Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 1,233,772,000 |  | 1,233,772,000 |  |  | 984,105,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Time Deposits |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 80,931,000 |  | 80,931,000 |  |  | 64,240,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments, Fair Value |  | 147,000 |  | 147,000 |  |  | 147,000
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration |  | 4,116,000 |  | 4,116,000 |  |  | 3,612,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis |  | 4,116,000 |  | 4,116,000 |  |  | 3,612,000
Unsecured debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 500,000,000 |  | 500,000,000 |  |  | 600,000,000
Unsecured debt | Fixed interest rate [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 450,000,000 |  | 450,000,000 |  |  | 550,000,000
Fair value of debt instruments |  | 456,000,000 |  | 456,000,000 |  |  | 558,000,000
Held by foreign subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, cash equivalents and investments |  | $ 2,275,000,000 |  | $ 2,275,000,000 |  |  | $ 1,971,000,000

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- Definition Cash includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the customer may deposit additional funds at any time and effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid Investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Short-term investments, exclusive of cash equivalents, generally consist of marketable securities intended to be sold within one year (or the normal operating cycle if longer) and may include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, or held-to-maturity securities (if maturing within one year), as applicable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 + Details
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