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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
May. 31, 2014 | Apr. 02, 2016 | Apr. 04, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015
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 |  | $ 2,505,000,000 |  | $ 2,399,000,000
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Foreign currency exposure |  | The Company is a global company that operates in over 35 countries and, as a result, the Company’s net sales, cost of sales, operating expenses and balance sheet amounts are significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to currency price risk on foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations when it translates its non-U.S. dollar foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars, and when any of the Company’s subsidiaries purchase or sell products or services in a currency other than its own currency. |  |
Maturity period of foreign exchange contracts |  | The Company periodically aggregates its net worldwide balances by currency and then enters into foreign currency exchange contracts that mature within 90 days to hedge a portion of the remaining balance to minimize some of the Company’s currency price risk exposure. |  |
Notional amount of foreign exchange contracts |  | $ 121,000,000 |  | 116,000,000
Realized losses on foreign exchange contracts |  | (1,895,000) | $ (3,348,000) |
Unrealized (losses) gains on foreign exchange contracts |  | (28,000) | 342,000 |
Cumulative net pre-tax losses on foreign exchange contracts |  | (1,923,000) | (3,006,000) |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 2,175,399,000 |  | 2,041,767,000
Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 1,593,301,000 |  | 1,493,027,000
Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accrued warranty liability, balance at beginning of period |  | 13,349,000 | 13,266,000 |
Accruals for warranties |  | 1,681,000 | 1,762,000 |
Settlements made |  | (2,198,000) | (2,157,000) |
Accrued warranty liability, balance at end of period |  | 12,832,000 | $ 12,871,000 |
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Other cash equivalents |  | 27,000,000 |  | 27,000,000
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  | 30,014,000 |  | 35,823,000
Forward foreign exchange contract assets |  | 814,000 |  | 616,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis |  | 2,233,227,000 |  | 2,105,206,000
Contingent consideration |  | 4,412,000 |  | 4,215,000
Forward foreign exchange contract liabilities |  | 628,000 |  | 402,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis |  | 5,040,000 |  | 4,617,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Other cash equivalents |  | 27,000,000 |  | 27,000,000
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  | 30,014,000 |  | 35,823,000
Forward foreign exchange contract assets |  | 814,000 |  | 616,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis |  | 2,233,227,000 |  | 2,105,206,000
Forward foreign exchange contract liabilities |  | 628,000 |  | 402,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis |  | 628,000 |  | 402,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration |  | 4,412,000 |  | 4,215,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis |  | 4,412,000 |  | 4,215,000
Held in currencies other than U.S. dollars [Member] |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash, cash equivalents and investments |  | $ 241,000,000 |  | 248,000,000
Programs authorized by Board of Directors [Member] |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Treasury stock shares acquired |  | 0.7 | 0.7 |
Treasury stock |  | $ 89,000,000 | $ 85,000,000 |
Related to Vesting of Restricted Stock Units [Member] |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Treasury stock |  | 6,000,000 | $ 6,000,000 |
May 2014 Program [Member] |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase program authorization amount | $ 750,000,000 |  |  |
Stock repurchase program remaining amount authorized for future purchases |  | 352,000,000 |  |
Stock repurchase program period | 3 years |  |  |
US Treasury Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 608,537,000 |  | 627,156,000
US Treasury Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 608,537,000 |  | 627,156,000
Foreign Government Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 27,011,000 |  | 15,199,000
Foreign Government Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 27,011,000 |  | 15,199,000
Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 1,433,296,000 |  | 1,324,318,000
Corporate Debt Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 1,433,296,000 |  | 1,324,318,000
Time Deposits | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 106,408,000 |  | 74,947,000
Time Deposits | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 106,408,000 |  | 74,947,000
Equity Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 147,000 |  | 147,000
Equity Securities | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  |  |
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Marketable securities |  | 147,000 |  | 147,000
Unsecured debt |  |  |  |
Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 450,000,000 |  | 500,000,000
Unsecured debt | Fixed interest rate [Member] |  |  |  |
Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 400,000,000 |  | 450,000,000
Fair value of debt instrument |  | 410,000,000 |  | 454,000,000
Held by foreign subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Cash, cash equivalents and investments |  | $ 2,478,000 |  | $ 2,346,000

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- Definition An element designated to encapsulate any additional information related to cash and cash equivalents not otherwise addressed by the existing taxonomy. 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 Entity may deposit additional funds at any time and also 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. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 + Details
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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 + Details
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