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Shareholders' Equity Textuals (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jan. 30, 2015
Common Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]        
Common Stock, Shares Authorized 125,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized 125,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized    
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare   $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Common Stock, Voting Rights one      
Common Stock Reserved for Issuance to the Stock Option Plans 4,389,320mtd_SharesReservedForGrantForStockOptionPlan      
Preferred Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]        
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized 10,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized 10,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized    
Preferred Stock, Par Value $ 0.01us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.01us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare    
Share Repurchase Program and Treasury Stock [Abstract]        
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount $ 3,000,000,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1      
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount 478,000,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1      
Shares Repurchased Under Share Repurchase Program 23,100,000mtd_SharesRepurchasedUnderShareRepurchaseProgram      
Repurchases of Common Stock, Value $ (414,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod $ (294,976,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod $ (278,672,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod  
Repurchases of Common Stock, Shares (1,617,499)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired (1,321,577)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired    
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share $ 255.93us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare $ 223.18us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare    
Exercise of stock options and restricted stock units, shares 373,431mtd_ExerciseOfStockOptionsAndRestrictedStockUnitsSharesTreasuryStockReissued 398,646mtd_ExerciseOfStockOptionsAndRestrictedStockUnitsSharesTreasuryStockReissued