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12. Commitments & Contingent Liabilities (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Jan. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Apr. 10, 2014
Oct. 04, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2016
Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Line Items]                
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value $ 27.7us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue   $ 20.8us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue          
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Operating leases, due next twelve months 39.3us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent              
Operating leases, due in two years 33.6us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears              
Operating leases, due in three years 25.7us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears              
Operating leases, due in four years 18.5us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears              
Operating leases, due thereafter 36.7us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter              
Post-Employment Benefits Liability 46.1us-gaap_PostemploymentBenefitsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent   46.3us-gaap_PostemploymentBenefitsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent          
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation 110.5us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligation              
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Next Twelve Months 18.4us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinOneYear              
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Second Year 11.7us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInSecondYear              
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Third Year 10.7us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInThirdYear              
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Fourth Year 3.4us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFourthYear              
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due in Fifth Year 2.4us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInFifthYear              
Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due after Fifth Year 63.9us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueAfterFifthYear              
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation 36.3us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceSheetAmount              
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due in Twelve Months 17.6us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceOnFirstAnniversary              
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Two Years 4.3us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceOnSecondAnniversary              
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Three Years 2.6us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceOnThirdAnniversary              
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Four Years 3.4us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceOnFourthAnniversary              
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due within Five Years 5.3us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceOnFifthAnniversary              
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation, Due after Five Years 3.1us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueAfterFiveYears              
Letters of Credit Outstanding Amount 7.6us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount              
Employees Covered By Collective Bargaining Agreements U.S., Percentage 8.00%bio_EmployeesCoveredByCollectiveBargainingAgreementsUSPercentage              
GnuBIO [Member]                
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings 0.7us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_GnuBIOMember		              
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability 10.0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_GnuBIOMember		       10.7us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_GnuBIOMember		      
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High         70.0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_GnuBIOMember		      
QuantaLife [Member]                
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Settlements   6.0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySettlements
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_QuantalifeMember		            
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability           24.1us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_QuantalifeMember		    
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High           48.0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_QuantalifeMember		    
CellSorter [Member]                
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Settlements 2.4us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySettlements
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_CellsorterMember		              
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings 0.7us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_CellsorterMember		              
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability 17.7us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_CellsorterMember		           44.6us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_CellsorterMember		  
UNITED STATES                
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Entity Number of Employees 3,100dei_EntityNumberOfEmployees
/ bio_EmployeeLocationAxis
= country_US		              
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]                
Purchase Commitment, Excluding Long-term Commitment [Line Items]                
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value 27.7us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember		 [1]   20.8us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember		 [1]          
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | QuantaLife [Member]                
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings     $ 2.0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_QuantalifeMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember		 $ 16.1us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_QuantalifeMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember		        
Sales milestone percentage of annual invoices [Member] | CellSorter [Member]                
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Potential Percentage Payout 40.00%bio_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialPercentagePayout
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_CellsorterMember
/ us-gaap_ContingentConsiderationByTypeAxis
= bio_SalesmilestonepercentageofannualinvoicesMember		              
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Sales milestone percentage of annual invoices [Member] | CellSorter [Member]                
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]                
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Potential Percentage Payout               39.00%bio_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialPercentagePayout
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= bio_CellsorterMember
/ us-gaap_ContingentConsiderationByTypeAxis
= bio_SalesmilestonepercentageofannualinvoicesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
[1] Contingent consideration liabilities are included in the following accounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions): December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 Other current liabilities$13.1 $6.1Other long-term liabilities14.6 14.7 Total$27.7 $20.8