Business Segment Information - Summary of Net Sales for Company's Products and Services (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 716,294	$ 577,278	$ 599,162	$ 513,862	$ 715,019	$ 578,021	$ 596,219	$ 530,670	$ 2,406,596	$ 2,419,929	$ 2,309,078
Waters Instrument Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales									963,871	1,000,625	988,750
Chemistry Consumables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales									412,018	400,287	372,157
TA Instrument Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales									191,300	204,081	191,442
Product [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales									1,567,189	1,604,993	1,552,349
Waters Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales									761,594	738,433	686,656
TA Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales									77,813	76,503	70,073
Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales									$ 839,407	$ 814,936	$ 756,729