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.

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

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		36 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016	May 14, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Long-term investments		$ 7,000,000		$ 7,000,000
Acquired in-process research and development				5,000,000
Potential payments under licensing arrangements		7,000,000		$ 7,000,000
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		3,126,000,000		$ 3,126,000,000			$ 2,813,000,000
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.
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		122,000,000		$ 122,000,000			120,000,000
Realized gains (losses) on closed contracts		1,868,000	$ (5,637,000)	430,000	$ (7,531,000)
Unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts		2,209,000	(963,000)	2,077,000	(992,000)
Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses)		4,077,000	(6,600,000)	2,507,000	(8,523,000)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		2,724,599,000		2,724,599,000			2,432,195,000
Debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt		1,687,233,000		1,687,233,000			1,701,966,000
Warranty Accrual Roll Forward [Abstract]
Accrued warranty liability, balance at beginning of period				13,391,000	13,349,000
Accruals for warranties				3,842,000	4,297,000
Settlements made				(4,369,000)	(4,719,000)
Accrued warranty liability, balance at end of period		12,864,000	$ 12,927,000	12,864,000	12,927,000
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Restructuring charges				11,000,000	$ 3,000,000
Restructuring reserve		5,000,000		5,000,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		32,200,000		32,200,000			30,954,000
Forward foreign exchange contract assets		1,418,000		1,418,000			60,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis		2,758,217,000		2,758,217,000			2,463,209,000
Contingent consideration		3,014,000		3,014,000			3,007,000
Forward foreign exchange contract liabilities		11,000		11,000			730,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis		3,025,000		3,025,000			3,737,000
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring \| Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets		32,200,000		32,200,000			30,954,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis		32,200,000		32,200,000			30,954,000
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]
Forward foreign exchange contract assets		1,418,000		1,418,000			60,000
Fair value of total assets measured on a recurring basis		2,726,017,000		2,726,017,000			2,432,255,000
Forward foreign exchange contract liabilities		11,000		11,000			730,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis		11,000		11,000			730,000
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		3,014,000		3,014,000			3,007,000
Fair value of total liabilities measured on a recurring basis		3,014,000		3,014,000			3,007,000
Held in currencies other than U.S. dollars [Member]
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and investments		316,000,000		$ 316,000,000			261,000,000
Programs authorized by Board of Directors [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Treasury stock shares acquired				1,000,000	1,300,000
Treasury stock				$ 159,000,000	$ 166,000,000
Related to Vesting of Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Treasury stock				7,000,000	$ 6,000,000
May 2017 Program [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program authorization amount	$ 1,000,000,000
Stock repurchase program remaining amount authorized for future purchases		964,000,000		964,000,000
Stock repurchase program period	3 years
May 2014 Program [Member]
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
Treasury stock shares acquired						5,500,000
Treasury stock						$ 750,000,000
US Treasury Securities \| Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		626,587,000		626,587,000			570,313,000
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		626,587,000		626,587,000			570,313,000
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		6,969,000		6,969,000			17,991,000
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		6,969,000		6,969,000			17,991,000
Corporate Debt Securities \| Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		1,795,051,000		1,795,051,000			1,643,838,000
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		1,795,051,000		1,795,051,000			1,643,838,000
Time Deposits \| Fair Value Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Marketable securities		295,845,000		295,845,000			199,906,000
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		295,845,000		295,845,000			199,906,000
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			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			147,000
Unsecured debt \| Fixed interest rate [Member]
Debt [Line Items]
Long-term debt		610,000,000		610,000,000			610,000,000
Fair value of debt instrument		609,000,000		609,000,000			603,000,000
Held by foreign subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Equivalents and Investments [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and investments		$ 3,081,000,000		$ 3,081,000,000			$ 2,766,000,000