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v2.4.1.9

Shareholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2015 | Jan. 30, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Stock repurchase plan, authorized amount | $ 500,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 |  |  |
Aggregate shares repurchased under stock repurchase plan | 19,607,058 colm_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesRepurchasedToDate |  |  |
Stock repurchased to date, value | 456,443,000 colm_StockRepurchasedToDateValue |  |  |
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value | 15,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue | 206,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |
Class of Stock [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase Program Increase in Authorization Value |  |  | 200,000,000 colm_StockRepurchaseProgramIncreaseinAuthorizationValue / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember |
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount |  |  |  | $ 243,557,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1 / us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis = us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember

X
- Definition Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased to date and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | colm_StockRepurchasedToDateValue
Namespace Prefix: | colm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Dollar value of the increase in stock repurchase program authorization during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | colm_StockRepurchaseProgramIncreaseinAuthorizationValue
Namespace Prefix: | colm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of shares that have been repurchased to date under the program. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | colm_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesRepurchasedToDate
Namespace Prefix: | colm_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30, 31 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |