XML 62 R51.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.2

Debt - Summary of Outstanding Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Oct. 02, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020
Senior Unsecured Notes Series E [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 3.97% | 3.97%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series F [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 3.40% | 3.40%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series G [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 3.92% | 3.92%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series H [Member] | LIBOR [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Interest rate margin | 1.25% | 1.25%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series I [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 3.13% | 3.13%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series K [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 3.44% | 3.44%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series L [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 3.31% | 3.31%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series M [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 3.53% | 3.53%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series N [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 1.68% | 1.68%
Senior Unsecured Notes Series O [Member] |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |
Stated interest rate on debt instrument | 2.25% | 2.25%

X
- Definition Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesEMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesFMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesGMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesHMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesIMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesKMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesLMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesMMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesNMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wat_SeniorUnsecuredNotesSeriesOMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |