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Taxes (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Beginning Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 18,848us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 17,780us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Increases related to current tax positions	990us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	2,024us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increase Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	1,944us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1,137us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Decreases related to prior year tax positions	0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	(362)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Foreign currency translation (decreases) increases to prior year tax positions	(926)mtd_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsForeignCurrencyTranslationDecreasesIncreasesToPriorYearTaxPositions	101mtd_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsForeignCurrencyTranslationDecreasesIncreasesToPriorYearTaxPositions
Decrease relating to taxing authority settlements	(1,886)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	(393)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Decreases resulting from a lapse of the applicable statue of limitations	(2,106)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	(1,439)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Ending Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 16,864us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	$ 18,848us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits

X

- Definition

The gross amount in unrecognized tax benefits for foreign currency translation increases (decreases) resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

+ References

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Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854



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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities.

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Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in current period tax return.

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Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

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Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from lapses of applicable statutes of limitations.

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