$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

$wat Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312513076804 Filed on February 26, 2013

Income Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2011 Q3	2011 Q2
Revenue	$521.4M	$447.6M	$427.6M
YoY Change	7.83%	14.47%	16.29%
Cost Of Revenue	$204.2M	$176.1M	$169.8M
YoY Change	7.92%	13.52%	16.38%
Gross Profit	$317.2M	$271.5M	$257.8M
YoY Change	7.76%	15.09%	16.24%
Gross Profit Margin	60.83%	60.66%	60.28%
Selling, General & Admin	$126.2M	$125.4M	$117.1M
YoY Change	4.75%	17.3%	9.78%
% of Gross Profit	39.8%	46.2%	45.44%
Research & Development	$23.71M	$23.01M	$22.25M
YoY Change	3.67%	10.61%	10.85%
% of Gross Profit	7.47%	8.48%	8.63%
Depreciation & Amortization	$16.70M	$17.30M	$8.640M
YoY Change	9.87%	12.34%	2.36%
% of Gross Profit	5.27%	6.37%	3.35%
Operating Expenses	$149.9M	$148.5M	$139.4M
YoY Change	4.57%	16.21%	9.95%
Operating Profit	$164.9M	$120.6M	$115.9M
YoY Change	58.82%	14.19%	25.49%
Interest Expense	$6.677M	$5.052M	$4.083M
YoY Change	75.25%	39.52%	56.2%
% of Operating Profit	4.05%	4.19%	3.52%
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$158.7M	$116.3M	$112.5M
YoY Change	9.54%	13.59%	24.93%
Income Tax	$21.53M	$16.25M	$18.04M
% Of Pretax Income	13.57%	13.97%	16.03%
Net Earnings	$101.3M	$100.1M	$94.50M
YoY Change	6.97%	17.9%	25.17%
Net Earnings / Revenue	19.43%	22.36%	22.1%
Basic Earnings Per Share
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$1.100M	$1.073M	$1.013M
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	89.32M shares	91.66M shares	91.65M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	90.57M shares	93.27M shares	93.31M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2011 Q4	2011 Q3	2011 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$1.194B	$1.122B	$1.039B
YoY Change	42.66%	48.67%	50.1%
Cash & Equivalents	$384.0M	$344.9M	$296.9M
Short-Term Investments	$770.3M	$776.8M	$742.2M
Other Short-Term Assets	$80.80M	$69.82M	$71.01M
YoY Change	4.01%	35.76%	31.74%
Inventory	$212.9M	$243.2M	$223.9M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$367.1M	$365.3M	$349.4M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.942B	$1.800B	$1.683B
YoY Change	22.4%	37.21%	34.75%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$237.1M	$218.6M	$217.0M
YoY Change	10.25%	3.79%	3.82%
Goodwill	$297.1M	$294.0M	$293.5M
YoY Change	1.86%	1.41%
Intangibles	$192.0M	$195.1M	$191.4M
YoY Change	5.89%	13.28%
Long-Term Investments
YoY Change
Other Assets	$54.97M	$64.12M	$61.89M
YoY Change	3.73%	23.87%	19.48%
Total Long-Term Assets	$781.1M	$771.8M	$763.8M
YoY Change	5.41%	6.53%	4.35%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.942B	$1.800B	$1.683B
Total Long-Term Assets	$781.1M	$771.8M	$763.8M
Total Assets	$2.723B	$2.572B	$2.447B
YoY Change	16.99%	26.29%	23.52%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$55.32M	$67.97M	$67.40M
YoY Change	-14.11%	14.58%	16.62%
Accrued Expenses	$51.70M	$44.60M	$40.60M
YoY Change	5.08%	7.21%	-5.14%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$271.6M	$136.2M	$390.3M
YoY Change	194.58%	139.37%	3047.58%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$601.9M	$467.3M	$716.2M
YoY Change	55.98%	28.88%	134.68%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$700.0M	$700.0M	$400.0M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%	-42.86%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$29.21M	$25.00M	$25.54M
YoY Change	29.05%	27.2%	-71.78%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$894.8M	$879.0M	$580.1M
YoY Change	2.49%	2.11%	-26.61%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$601.9M	$467.3M	$716.2M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$894.8M	$879.0M	$580.1M
Total Liabilities	$1.497B	$1.346B	$1.296B
YoY Change	18.89%	10.04%	10.97%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$3.051B	$2.813B	$2.713B
YoY Change	16.54%	17.35%
Common Stock	$1.091B	$1.043B	$998.2M
YoY Change	12.34%	23.47%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$2.880B	$2.663B	$2.583B
YoY Change	14.78%	11.29%
Treasury Stock Shares	63.76M shares	60.97M shares	60.13M shares
Shareholders Equity	$1.227B	$1.226B	$1.151B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$2.723B	$2.572B	$2.447B
YoY Change	16.99%	26.29%	23.52%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2011 Q4	2011 Q3	2011 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$101.3M	$100.1M	$94.50M
YoY Change	6.97%	17.9%	25.17%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$16.70M	$17.30M	$8.640M
YoY Change	9.87%	12.34%	2.36%
Cash From Operating Activities	$127.3M	$97.20M	$122.8M
YoY Change	16.79%	-12.9%	19.01%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$16.00M	-$18.50M	-$16.80M
YoY Change	-38.7%	68.18%	64.71%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$4.600M	-$34.50M	-$104.3M
YoY Change	-96.48%	-28.72%	-1.6%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$20.60M	-$53.00M	-$121.1M
YoY Change	-86.85%	-10.92%	4.23%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net			$73.18M
YoY Change			-30.32%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net			$217.8M
YoY Change			64.2%
Cash From Financing Activities	-13.30M	2.600M	-$27.25M
YoY Change	-28.88%	-111.98%	47.46%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	127.3M	97.20M	$122.8M
Cash From Investing Activities	-20.60M	-53.00M	-$121.1M
Cash From Financing Activities	-13.30M	2.600M	-$27.25M
Net Change In Cash	93.40M	46.80M	-$25.60M
YoY Change	-240.66%	53.95%	-18.77%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$127.3M	$97.20M	$122.8M
Capital Expenditures	-$16.00M	-$18.50M	-$16.80M
Free Cash Flow	$143.3M	$115.7M	$139.6M
YoY Change	6.07%	-5.63%	23.12%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	49949000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue And Credits Current DeferredRevenueAndCreditsCurrent	121470000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue And Credits Current DeferredRevenueAndCreditsCurrent	109922000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	60888000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	9449000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	12353000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	13258000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	90116000	USD
CY2012	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	WATERS CORP /DE/
CY2012	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001000697
CY2012	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2012	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2012	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2012	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2012
CY2012	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2012	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2012	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2012	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2012	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2012Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	6966563351	USD
CY2012	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2012-12-31
CY2013Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	85886844	shares
CY2012	wat	Maximum Percentage Of Net Sales To Individual Customer MaximumPercentageOfNetSalesToIndividualCustomer	0.03	pure
CY2012	wat	Percent Of Net Sales To Pharmaceutical Industry PercentOfNetSalesToPharmaceuticalIndustry	0.53	pure
CY2011	wat	Maximum Percentage Of Net Sales To Individual Customer MaximumPercentageOfNetSalesToIndividualCustomer	0.03	pure
CY2010	wat	Maximum Percentage Of Net Sales To Individual Customer MaximumPercentageOfNetSalesToIndividualCustomer	0.03	pure
CY2011	wat	Percent Of Net Sales To Pharmaceutical Industry PercentOfNetSalesToPharmaceuticalIndustry	0.52	pure
CY2010	wat	Percent Of Net Sales To Pharmaceutical Industry PercentOfNetSalesToPharmaceuticalIndustry	0.52	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	481035000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	404556000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	229565000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	84580000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	2257726000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	273279000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	220145000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	316834000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	100166000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	3168150000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	132781000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	290832000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	54724000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	55317000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	31910000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	73136000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	504242000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	601863000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	1045000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	700000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	101225000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	92970000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	24772000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	72613000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	25554000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	29210000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Noncurrent LiabilitiesNoncurrent	1196551000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Noncurrent LiabilitiesNoncurrent	894793000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	1700793000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	1496656000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	1537000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	1528000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1155504000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1089959000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	3512890000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	3051447000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	3176179000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	2880301000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-26395000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-36055000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1467357000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1226578000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	3168150000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	2723234000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	383990000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	367085000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	212864000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	80804000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1942104000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	237095000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	191992000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	297071000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	54972000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	2723234000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	8240000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
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CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
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CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	153696000	shares
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CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	67306000	shares
CY2011Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	8584000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	5000000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2011	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	9733000	USD
CY2012	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	13829000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	563000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	-15353000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	449280000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	1120691000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	730493000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	224420000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	506073000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	1851184000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	529048000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1322136000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	400000000	shares
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CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	88996000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	63761000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	1539000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	1281000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1280507000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	563134000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	1843641000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	501660000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	235954000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	737614000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	1106027000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	477270000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	96004000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	511490000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	28073000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	4208000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	487625000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	26182000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	461443000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	5.25
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	87841000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	5.19
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	88979000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	92325000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	4.69
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	90833000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	4.77
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	432968000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	76284000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	509252000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	2623000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	21971000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	528600000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	92347000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	490011000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	990068000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	445456000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	84274000	USD
CY2010	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	10406000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1166627000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	476744000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	1643371000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	453779000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	199524000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	653303000	USD
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CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	13924000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	1855000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	437863000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	56100000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	381763000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	4.13
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	92385000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	4.06
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	94057000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.054	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.150	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.128	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-7434000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	17279000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	-995000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-348000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-647000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-6972000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	9660000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	471103000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-12644000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	966000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	339000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	627000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-12243000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-24260000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	408708000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-24568000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax	19000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	7000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	12000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-2813000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-27369000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	354394000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-11092000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-18835000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax Period Increase Decrease OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-4328000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	-1515000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	-6592000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTax	-4120000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	2256000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	10725000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	29183000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	37422000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	31409000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	39836000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	21655000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	7136000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-1473000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	104749000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	1815988000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	1655359000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-296394000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	218324000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	32107000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	497000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	28869000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-3105000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-2109000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-52219000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	31016000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	295878000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	10568000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	1489721000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	4523000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	1234671000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	885896000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-411515000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	315641000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	181358000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	-4186000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-66535000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	10694000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	97045000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	11005000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	2630000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	2233000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-60422000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	-5484000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	75492000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	598528000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	373751000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	60153000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	370835000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-355976000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	1749161000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	85436000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	11100000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-11845000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	11211000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	497374000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	12528000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	18838000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-4309000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	12071000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	3265000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	10131000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	27579000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	36531000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	29856000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	308498000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	32239000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	2926000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	10897000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	24852000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	34421000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	28137000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	43286000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	37036000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-2402000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-2472000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	52017000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	9433000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	3895000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	457856000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	62740000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1498000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	100584000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	296292000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	10809000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	8138000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-60252000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	-18702000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-32613000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	59446000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	28305000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	50313000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	97126000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	56003000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	19658000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	39688000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	10564000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	341111000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-52219000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-5824000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-15037000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	848949000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1068797000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	148831000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	153696000	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	151054000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	152757000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	66000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	243000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	58000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	264000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1381000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	630000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	62000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1933000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	228000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	3458000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	4150000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	4661000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	24208000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	10809000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	32239000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	10568000	USD
CY2010	wat	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Increase In Valuation Allowance AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInValuationAllowance	-25873000	USD
CY2011	wat	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Increase In Valuation Allowance AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInValuationAllowance	-176000	USD
CY2012	wat	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Increase In Valuation Allowance AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInValuationAllowance	2354000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	24480000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	27340000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	28471000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	296292000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	370835000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	295878000	USD
CY2010	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	-6035000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Nature Of Operations NatureOfOperations	<p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0px;">Waters Corporation (“Waters</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">®</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">” or the “Company”) is</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> an ana</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">lytical instrument manufacturer that</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> primarily designs, manufactures, sells and services, through its Waters Division, high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”), ultra performance liquid chromatography (“UPLC</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">®</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">” and together with HPLC, referred to as “LC”) and mass spectrometry (“MS”) </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">technology</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> systems and support products, including chromatography columns, other consumable products and comprehensive post-warranty service plans. These systems are complementary products that </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">are frequently employed together (“LC-MS”) and sold as </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">integrated </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">instrument systems using a common software platform and are</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> used along with other analytical instruments. LC is a standard technique and is utilized in a broad range of industries to detect, identify, monitor and measure the chemical, physical and biological composition of materials, and to purify a full range of compounds. MS instruments are used in drug discovery and development, including clinical trial testing, the analysis of proteins in disease process</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">es (known as “proteomics”), nutritional</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> safety analysis and environmental testing. LC-MS instruments </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">combine</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> a liquid phase sample introduction and separation system with mass spectrometric compound identification and quantification. Through its TA Division (“TA</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">®</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">”), the Company primarily designs, manufactures, sells and services thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instruments, which are used in predicting the suitability of fine chemicals, </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">pharmaceuticals, water, </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">polymers and viscous liquids for various industrial, consumer goods and healthcare products, as well as for life science research. The Company is also a developer and supplier of software-based products that interface with the Company's instruments and are typically purchased by customers as part of the instrument system.</font></p>
CY2012	wat	Consolidated Entities ConsolidatedEntities	The Company consolidates entities in which it owns or controls fifty percent or more of the voting shares.
CY2012	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transactions Description ForeignCurrencyTransactionsDescription	Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in net income in the consolidated statements of operations and were not material for the years presented.
CY2011	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transactions Description ForeignCurrencyTransactionsDescription	Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in net income in the consolidated statements of operations and were not material for the years presented.
CY2010	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transactions Description ForeignCurrencyTransactionsDescription	Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in net income in the consolidated statements of operations and were not material for the years presented.
CY2012	us-gaap	Additional Cash And Cash Equivalent Related Text AdditionalCashAndCashEquivalentRelatedText	Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, primarily in bank deposits, U.S. and U.K. treasury bill money market funds and commercial paper.
CY2012	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Additional Narrative Disclosure AccountsReceivableAdditionalNarrativeDisclosure	Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectibility.
CY2009Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	6723000	USD
CY2012	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7298000	USD
CY2012	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	-7642000	USD
CY2010Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	6196000	USD
CY2011	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	9932000	USD
CY2011	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	-7544000	USD
CY2010	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	5508000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5824000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Method Investments Additional Information CostMethodInvestmentsAdditionalInformation	The Company accounts for its investments that represent less than twenty percent ownership, and for which the Company does not have significant influence, using the accounting standards for investments in debt and equity securities. Investments for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, and for which there is not a readily determinable market value, are accounted for under the cost method of accounting. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of its investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting and carries them at the lower of cost or estimated net realizable value.
CY2012	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Income Statement Disclosures PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncomeStatementDisclosures	There were no material gains or losses from retirement or sale of assets in 2012, 2011 and 2010.
CY2011	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Income Statement Disclosures PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncomeStatementDisclosures	There were no material gains or losses from retirement or sale of assets in 2012, 2011 and 2010.
CY2010	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Income Statement Disclosures PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncomeStatementDisclosures	There were no material gains or losses from retirement or sale of assets in 2012, 2011 and 2010.
CY2012	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Additional Information EquityMethodInvestmentAdditionalInformation	For investments in which the Company owns or controls between twenty and forty-nine percent of the voting shares, or over which it exerts significant influence over operating and financial policies, the equity method of accounting is used. The Company’s share of net income or losses of equity investments is included in the consolidated statements of operations and was not material in any period presented.
CY2011	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Additional Information EquityMethodInvestmentAdditionalInformation	The Company’s share of net income or losses of equity investments is included in the consolidated statements of operations and was not material in any period presented.
CY2010	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Additional Information EquityMethodInvestmentAdditionalInformation	The Company’s share of net income or losses of equity investments is included in the consolidated statements of operations and was not material in any period presented.
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	146232000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	1057990000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Asset At Fair Value ForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeAssetAtFairValue	1173000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	1230222000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Waters Restoration Plan Assets WatersRestorationPlanAssets	24827000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Liability At Fair Value ForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeLiabilityAtFairValue	693000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	693000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	142966000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	897361000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Asset At Fair Value ForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeAssetAtFairValue	81000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	1061075000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Waters Restoration Plan Assets WatersRestorationPlanAssets	20667000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Liability At Fair Value ForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeLiabilityAtFairValue	1317000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	1317000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Maturity Of Foreign Currency Derivatives MaturityOfForeignCurrencyDerivatives	The periods of these forward contracts typically range from one to three months and have varying notional amounts, which are intended to be consistent with changes in the underlying exposures.
CY2010	wat	Percentage Point Change In Effective Tax Rate PercentagePointChangeInEffectiveTaxRate	-2.1	pure
CY2012	wat	Percentage Point Change In Effective Tax Rate PercentagePointChangeInEffectiveTaxRate	-8.6	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	7212000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	-8117000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	10175000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Derivatives NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	161000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Derivatives NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	134000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Notional Amount Of Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Derivatives NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	136000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Derivatives GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	4186000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgingInstruments	1716000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgingInstruments	-1035000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedging Instruments ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgingInstruments	-39000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Derivatives GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	-2233000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Fair Value Hedge Derivatives GainLossOnForeignCurrencyFairValueHedgeDerivatives	-8138000	USD
CY2012	wat	Cumulative Net Pre Tax Gains Losses On Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts CumulativeNetPreTaxGainsLossesOnForwardForeignExchangeContracts	5902000	USD
CY2011	wat	Cumulative Net Pre Tax Gains Losses On Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts CumulativeNetPreTaxGainsLossesOnForwardForeignExchangeContracts	-3268000	USD
CY2010	wat	Cumulative Net Pre Tax Gains Losses On Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts CumulativeNetPreTaxGainsLossesOnForwardForeignExchangeContracts	-8177000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	-8189000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	11272000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	10109000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	7618000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	-6455000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	9000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Capitalized Costs For Sofware Developed For Internal Use Net CapitalizedCostsForSofwareDevelopedForInternalUseNet	3000000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Capitalized Costs For Sofware Developed For Internal Use Net CapitalizedCostsForSofwareDevelopedForInternalUseNet	3000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	13000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	11000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	10000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	73280000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	16133000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	140152000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	71993000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	12293000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	128578000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	314044000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	587323000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	518081000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	280986000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	6000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	6000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Property Plant And Equipment BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1254000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Assets BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationOtherAssets	412000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amount BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmount	18460000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Cash And Cash Equivalents BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentAssetsCashAndCashEquivalents	1148000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Receivables BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentAssetsReceivables	319000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Inventory BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentAssetsInventory	2887000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Amortizable Intangible Assets BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableIntangibleAssets	15966000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Assets Acquired BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAssetsAcquired	40446000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Liabilities BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationCurrentLiabilities	2896000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Noncurrent Liabilities Long Term Debt BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationNoncurrentLiabilitiesLongTermDebt	732000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Income Taxes Asset Liability Net BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationDeferredIncomeTaxesAssetLiabilityNet	-4654000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Cash Paid BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaid	32164000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Intangible Assets Gross IntangibleAssetsGross	495740000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	275595000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Average Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAverageUsefulLife	7	pure
CY2011Q4	wat	Intangible Assets Gross IntangibleAssetsGross	431675000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	239683000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Average Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAverageUsefulLife	7	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	3000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	4000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-15037000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-36410000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-36410000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	138000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	115000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	2000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Additions CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions	34000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Additions CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions	29000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months Range Minimum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonthsRangeMinimum	40000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two Range Minimum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwoRangeMinimum	40000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three Range Minimum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThreeRangeMinimum	40000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four Range Minimum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFourRangeMinimum	40000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five Range Minimum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFiveRangeMinimum	40000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months Range Maximum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonthsRangeMaximum	45000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two Range Maximum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwoRangeMaximum	45000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three Range Maximum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThreeRangeMaximum	45000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four Range Maximum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFourRangeMaximum	45000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five Range Maximum FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFiveRangeMaximum	45000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Indefinite Lived Intangibles Deferred Tax Liabilities IndefiniteLivedIntangiblesDeferredTaxLiabilities	18252000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Indefinite Lived Intangibles Deferred Tax Liabilities IndefiniteLivedIntangiblesDeferredTaxLiabilities	17665000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	4000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	171000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	37962000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	40917000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	120438000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Debt Debt	1177781000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Debt Debt	990832000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	107000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	109000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	78401000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	82108000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	71137000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	39840000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	33242000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	21599000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	5599000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	5661000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	3491000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	-19257000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	37381000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	31010000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	170669000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	178238000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	153252000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	3639000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	3679000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2269000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-108893000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-102528000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-97312000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-2823000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	25024000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	22616000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	3919000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	4941000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	3658000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	3226000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	36711000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	30371000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	19038000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	11349000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	251976000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	131177000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	93576000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	10248000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	158400000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Depreciation Deferred Tax Assets DepreciationDeferredTaxAssets	14555000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Depreciation Deferred Tax Assets DepreciationDeferredTaxAssets	12990000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	120929000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	15726000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	13263000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	3980000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	9818000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits Deferred Tax Assets NetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCreditsDeferredTaxAssets	119405000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits Deferred Tax Assets NetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCreditsDeferredTaxAssets	18242000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	80012000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	29666000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	27442000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	51000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	56000000	USD
CY2012	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Canceled Upper Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsCanceledUpperRangeLimit	77.94
CY2012	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Granted Lower Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsGrantedLowerRangeLimit	75.94
CY2011	wat	Change In Other Uncertain Tax Benefits ChangeInOtherUncertainTaxBenefits	1676000	USD
CY2010	wat	Change In Other Uncertain Tax Benefits ChangeInOtherUncertainTaxBenefits	5095000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Current LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsCurrent	39000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	25000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Estimated Range Of Change Lower Bound SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeLowerBound	5000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Estimated Range Of Change Upper Bound SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBound	39000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	69000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	24000000	USD
CY2012	wat	Unremitted Earnings Of Foreign Subsidiaries UnremittedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries	2000000000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	77924000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	71523000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	73199000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	64390000	USD
CY2012	wat	Change In Other Uncertain Tax Benefits ChangeInOtherUncertainTaxBenefits	-3184000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	23243000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	18135000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	11456000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	7259000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Future Minimum Rents Payable In Five Years And Thereafter FutureMinimumRentsPayableInFiveYearsAndThereafter	18019000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	30000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	28000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	27000000	USD
CY2012	wat	License Fees Paid Less Than One Million LicenseFeesPaidLessThanOneMillion	less than $1 million
CY2011	wat	License Fees Paid Less Than One Million LicenseFeesPaidLessThanOneMillion	less than $1 million
CY2010	wat	License Fees Paid Less Than One Million LicenseFeesPaidLessThanOneMillion	less than $1 million
CY2012Q4	wat	Future Minimum License Fees Payable FutureMinimumLicenseFeesPayable	Future minimum license fees payable under existing license agreements as of December 31, 2012 are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2013 and thereafter.
CY2012	wat	Purchase Price Calculation For Shares Of Stock Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan PurchasePriceCalculationForSharesOfStockUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	The purchase price for each share of stock is the lesser of 90% of the market price on the first day of the plan period or 100% of the market price on the last day of the plan period.
CY2012Q4	wat	Maximum Contribution Allowed Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan As Of Employees Earnings MaximumContributionAllowedUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlanAsOfEmployeesEarnings	0.15	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	31000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	67000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	45000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	114000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	4.3	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	114000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	63.18
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm	6.0	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	5600000	shares
CY2012Q4	wat	Total Number Of Shares Purchased Under Employee Stock Purchase Plan TotalNumberOfSharesPurchasedUnderEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	1100000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	2900000	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	3700000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	4800000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Employee Stock Ownership Plan Esop Compensation Expense EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCompensationExpense	1000000	USD
CY2012	wat	Plan Period Employee Stock Purchase Plan In Months PlanPeriodEmployeeStockPurchasePlanInMonths	3	pure
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	47.95
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	43.45
CY2011	us-gaap	Employee Stock Ownership Plan Esop Compensation Expense EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCompensationExpense	1000000	USD
CY2010	wat	Compensation Expense Related To Employee Stock Purchase Plan Less Than One Million CompensationExpenseRelatedToEmployeeStockPurchasePlanLessThanOneMillion	less than $1 million
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	27579000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	29183000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	24852000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	-69000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	4809000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	56.71
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	64.10
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	63.34
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	699000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	6	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Payments ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendPayments	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	658000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	6	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Payments ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendPayments	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	667000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Term ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm	6	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Dividend Payments ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendPayments	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.265	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.376	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Expected Volatility Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate	0.271	pure
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.010	pure
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.011	pure
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions Risk Free Interest Rate ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate	0.020	pure
CY2012	wat	Weighted Average Exercise Price Of Options Granted WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOptionsGranted	86.55
CY2011	wat	Weighted Average Exercise Price Of Options Granted WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOptionsGranted	79.10
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	23.97
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	29.67
CY2010	wat	Weighted Average Exercise Price Of Options Granted WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOptionsGranted	78.21
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	23.97
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	4809000	shares
CY2012Q4	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Outstanding Lower Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsOutstandingLowerRangeLimit	23.19
CY2012Q4	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Outstanding Upper Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsOutstandingUpperRangeLimit	87.06
CY2011Q4	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Outstanding Lower Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsOutstandingLowerRangeLimit	21.39
CY2011Q4	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Outstanding Upper Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsOutstandingUpperRangeLimit	79.15
CY2012	wat	Weighted Average Exercise Price Of Options Exercised WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfOptionsExercised	38.40
CY2012	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Exercised Lower Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsExercisedLowerRangeLimit	21.39
CY2012	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Exercised Upper Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsExercisedUpperRangeLimit	79.05
CY2012	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Canceled Lower Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsCanceledLowerRangeLimit	41.20
CY2012	wat	Exercise Price Range Of Options Granted Upper Range Limit ExercisePriceRangeOfOptionsGrantedUpperRangeLimit	87.06
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Outstanding Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfOutstandingOptions	4809000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Exercise Price Beginning Balance1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeOutstandingOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePriceBeginningBalance1	63.34
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Outstanding Options Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeOutstandingOptionsWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	6.1	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	2868000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	54.00
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	1138000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2000000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	1300000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2500000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	1492000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	1672000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Alternative Method Used To Amortize Net Gains And Losses DefinedBenefitPlanAlternativeMethodUsedToAmortizeNetGainsAndLosses	amortize cumulative actuarial gains and losses in excess of 10% of the larger of the market-related value of plan assets and the projected benefit obligation over the expected future service of active participants.
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	147788000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	108727000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Three DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearThree	8450000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year One DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearOne	6307000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Two DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearTwo	7503000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Four DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearFour	11433000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Year Five DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearFive	10148000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments In Five Fiscal Years Thereafter DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInFiveFiscalYearsThereafter	67051000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Estimated Future Employer Contributions To Defined Benefit Plans In Next Fiscal Year Range Minimum EstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsToDefinedBenefitPlansInNextFiscalYearRangeMinimum	8000000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Estimated Future Employer Contributions To Defined Benefit Plans In Next Fiscal Year Range Maximum EstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsToDefinedBenefitPlansInNextFiscalYearRangeMaximum	10000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	420458000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	167290000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	253168000	USD
CY2012	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.71	pure
CY2011	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.71	pure
CY2010	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.70	pure
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	117119000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	23347000	USD
CY2012Q1	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	2485000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	110217000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6491000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	769000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	104495000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15829000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	88666000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.00
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	88992000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.98
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	90269000	shares
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	451465000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	179259000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	272206000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	122682000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	23943000	USD
CY2012Q2	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	2458000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	120123000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6878000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	1031000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	114276000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16552000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	97724000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.11
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	88317000	shares
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.09
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	89381000	shares
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	449952000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	182702000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	267250000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	115322000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	23756000	USD
CY2012Q3	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	6427000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	121745000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	7107000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	1184000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	115822000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16713000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	99109000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.13
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	87411000	shares
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.12
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	88451000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	521766000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	208363000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	313403000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	122147000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	24958000	USD
CY2012Q4	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	2459000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	159405000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	7597000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	1224000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	153032000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-22912000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	175944000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	2.03
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86712000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	2.00
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	87851000	shares
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	521420000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	101257000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.12
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	90688000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.10
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	116328000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16253000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	100075000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.09
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	91662000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.07
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	93271000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	454534000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	180318000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-4434000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	427603000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	169829000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	257774000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	117124000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	22254000	USD
CY2011Q2	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	2501000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	115895000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	4083000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	713000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	112525000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	18036000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	94489000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.03
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	91649000	shares
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.01
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	93313000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	447627000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	176103000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	271524000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	125439000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	23014000	USD
CY2011Q3	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	2504000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	120567000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	5052000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	813000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	274216000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	121211000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	23372000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	2369000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	127264000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6159000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	613000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	121718000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20461000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	204243000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	317177000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	126237000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	92060000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	484000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	158681000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	21534000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	137147000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.54
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	89324000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.51
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	90566000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	23707000	USD
CY2011Q4	wat	Purchased Intangibles Amortization PurchasedIntangiblesAmortization	2359000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	164874000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6677000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	83683000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	80974000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	2354000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	10361000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	63000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	-176000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	-47449000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	-25873000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	93576000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	10248000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001193125-13-076804-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-13-076804-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-13-076804.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-13-076804-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
d435715d10k.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d435715dex211.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d435715dex231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d435715dex311.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d435715dex312.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d435715dex321.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d435715dex322.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xls	Edgar Link	pending
g435715g52u89.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R10.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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R8.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R9.htm	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending
wat-20121231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
wat-20121231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
wat-20121231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20121231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20121231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20121231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable

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$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312513076804 Filed on February 26, 2013

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$WAT WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

2011 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312513076804 Filed on February 26, 2013

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat