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Shareholders' Equity Details 1 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ (212,949)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	$ (35,036)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	$ (97,461)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	(105,230)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax	32,752us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(713)mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact	(448)mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(74,841)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	19,850us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
Amounts Recognized From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax	2,871mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	10,271mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(177,913)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	62,425us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Currency Translation Adjustment, Net Of Tax [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(4,960)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember	77,915us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember	56,012us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember	0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember	0mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(82,875)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember	21,903us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember
Amounts Recognized From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax	0mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember	0mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(82,875)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember	21,903us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_CurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxMember
Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedging Arrangements, Net Of Tax [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1,944)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember	(2,433)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember	(5,438)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember	0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(713)mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember	(448)mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(55)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember	(43)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember
Amounts Recognized From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax	1,257mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember	3,496mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	489us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember	3,005us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_NetUnrealizedGainLossonCashFlowHedgingArrangementsNetOfTaxMember
Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Related Items, Net Of Tax [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(206,045)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember	(110,518)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember	(148,035)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	(105,230)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember	32,752us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember	0mtd_Amountaftertaxrecordedtoaccumulatedothercomprehensiveincomeexcludingforeigncurrencyimpact / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	8,089us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember	(2,010)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember
Amounts Recognized From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Of Tax	1,614mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember	6,775mtd_AmountsRecognizedFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ (95,527)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember	$ 37,517us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis = mtd_PensionandPostRetirementBenefitRelatedItemsNetOfTaxMember

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss), excluding foreign currency translation impact.

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