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Document and Entity Information (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Feb. 17, 2015
Entity Registrant Name BIO RAD LABORATORIES INC    
Document Type 10-K    
Document Period End Date Dec. 31, 2014    
Amendment Flag false    
Entity Central Index Key 0000012208    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31    
Entity Filer Category Large Accelerated Filer    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Yes    
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2014    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
Entity Public Float   $ 2,447,599,082dei_EntityPublicFloat  
Common Class A [Member]      
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding     23,983,726dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
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Common Class B [Member]      
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding     5,117,908dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
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= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember