Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 29, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	$ 218,524	$ 999,475
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets	33,278	33,104
Total	253,064	1,034,175
Contingent consideration	2,707	2,476
Total	2,999	2,700
Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	164	503
Foreign currency exchange contracts	292	224
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	1,098	1,093
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	66,225	164,315
Foreign Government Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities		3,463
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	94,335	723,059
Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	57,964	108,638
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets	33,278	33,104
Total	33,278	33,104
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Total	219,786	1,001,071
Total	292	224
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	164	503
Foreign currency exchange contracts	292	224
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	1,098	1,093
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| US Treasury Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	66,225	164,315
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Foreign Government Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities		3,463
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	94,335	723,059
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	57,964	108,638
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Contingent consideration	2,707	2,476
Total	$ 2,707	$ 2,476

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