XML 46 R32.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] |
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] |
| 2017 |  | 2016
Balance at beginning of year | $ | 476,378 |  |  | $ | 446,284 |
Goodwill acquired | 52,229 |  |  | 41,308 |
Foreign currency translation | 11,231 |  |  | (11,214 | )
Balance at year end | $ | 539,838 |  |  | $ | 476,378 |
Schedule Of Finite Lived And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets By Major Class [Table Text Block] |
| 2017 |  | 2016
| Gross Amount |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Intangibles, Net |  | Gross Amount |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Intangibles, Net
Customer relationships | $ | 198,527 |  |  | $ | (41,794 | ) |  | $ | 156,733 |  |  | $ | 147,466 |  |  | $ | (34,672 | ) |  | $ | 112,794 |
Proven technology and patents | 70,311 |  |  | (38,890 | ) |  | 31,421 |  |  | 58,394 |  |  | (35,128 | ) |  | 23,266 |
Tradenames (finite life) | 4,518 |  |  | (2,807 | ) |  | 1,711 |  |  | 4,182 |  |  | (2,514 | ) |  | 1,668 |
Tradenames (indefinite life) | 35,562 |  |  | — |  |  | 35,562 |  |  | 28,272 |  |  | — |  |  | 28,272 |
Other | 3,490 |  |  | (2,199 | ) |  | 1,291 |  |  | 2,871 |  |  | (1,816 | ) |  | 1,055 |
| $ | 312,408 |  |  | $ | (85,690 | ) |  | $ | 226,718 |  |  | $ | 241,185 |  |  | $ | (74,130 | ) |  | $ | 167,055 |

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of amortizable intangible assets and the carrying value of intangible assets not subject to amortization, excluding goodwill, in total by major class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by nature or by their use in the operations of the company. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mtd_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | mtd_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of goodwill by reportable segment and in total which includes a rollforward schedule. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13854-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfGoodwillTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration