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Revenue Recognition - Summary of Activity of Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances (Detail) - Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2018 | Jul. 01, 2017
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items] |  |
Balance at Beginning of Period | $ 192,590 | $ 173,780
Recognition of revenue included in balance at beginning of the period | (138,227) | (122,930)
Revenue deferred during the period, net of revenue recognized | 186,392 | 184,529
Balance at End of Period | $ 240,755 | $ 235,379

X
- Definition Amount of deferred revenue as of balance sheet date. Deferred revenue represents collections of cash or other assets related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deferred revenue recognized for transactions arising during the current reporting period. Deferred revenue is a liability as of the balance sheet date related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an Entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredRevenueAdditions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of revenue recognized that was previously reported as deferred or unearned revenue. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis=wat_DeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |