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	Apr. 03, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	$ 190,573	$ 6,451
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets	39,605	38,988
Total	230,386	46,275
Contingent consideration	1,225	1,185
Total	21,496	46,366
Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	208	836
Foreign currency exchange contracts	241	185
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency exchange contracts	20,030	44,996
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	12,061
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	119,800
Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	58,712	6,451
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	39,605	38,988
Total	39,605	38,988
Contingent consideration	0
Total	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	0
Foreign currency exchange contracts	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency exchange contracts	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| US Treasury Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets	0
Total	190,781	7,287
Contingent consideration	0
Total	20,271	45,181
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	208	836
Foreign currency exchange contracts	241	185
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]
Foreign currency exchange contracts	20,030	44,996
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	12,061
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	119,800
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	58,712	6,451
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets	0
Total	0
Contingent consideration	1,225	1,185
Total	1,225	$ 1,185
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Foreign Currency Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value, derivative asset	0
Foreign currency exchange contracts	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Foreign currency exchange contracts	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| US Treasury Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] \| Time Deposits [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available for sale securities	$ 0

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