$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

$wat Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312516480594 Filed on February 26, 2016

Income Statement

Concept	2015 Q4	2015 Q3	2015 Q2
Revenue	$586.6M	$494.7M	$460.4M
YoY Change	0.47%	0.32%	-4.44%
Cost Of Revenue	$237.9M	$208.7M	$189.2M
YoY Change	2.06%	3.21%	-6.25%
Gross Profit	$348.7M	$286.0M	$271.2M
YoY Change	-0.59%	-1.69%	-3.14%
Gross Profit Margin	59.44%	57.81%	58.9%
Selling, General & Admin	$128.7M	$122.7M	$119.8M
YoY Change	-2.45%	0.36%	-9.23%
% of Gross Profit	36.9%	42.88%	44.16%
Research & Development	$28.34M	$30.56M	$28.95M
YoY Change	-1.35%	12.01%	7.32%
% of Gross Profit	8.13%	10.68%	10.68%
Depreciation & Amortization	$21.70M	$22.70M	$11.45M
YoY Change	-8.05%	-23.05%	-44.98%
% of Gross Profit	6.22%	7.94%	4.22%
Operating Expenses	$157.0M	$153.2M	$148.7M
YoY Change	-2.26%	2.48%	-6.42%
Operating Profit	$181.3M	$130.3M	$120.0M
YoY Change	5.39%	-6.05%	1.34%
Interest Expense	$9.205M	$9.046M	$8.975M
YoY Change	-4.8%	-0.18%	12.6%
% of Operating Profit	5.08%	6.94%	7.48%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$0.00
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$175.2M	$123.8M	$113.3M
YoY Change	6.55%	-5.81%	1.09%
Income Tax	$23.96M	$18.12M	$17.29M
% Of Pretax Income	13.67%	14.64%	15.25%
Net Earnings	$116.3M	$105.7M	$96.10M
YoY Change	-23.13%	-6.87%	-0.41%
Net Earnings / Revenue	19.83%	21.36%	20.87%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$1.85	$1.28	$1.16
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$1.84	$1.27	$1.15
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	81.65M shares	82.56M shares	83.03M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	82.38M shares	83.33M shares	83.75M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2015 Q4	2015 Q3	2015 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$2.311B	$2.209B	$2.109B
YoY Change	12.42%	13.49%	9.98%
Cash & Equivalents	$487.7M	$365.9M	$440.8M
Short-Term Investments	$1.851B	$1.843B	$1.668B
Other Short-Term Assets	$85.00M	$118.5M	$115.0M
YoY Change	-28.15%	30.56%	30.09%
Inventory	$281.8M	$272.9M	$257.5M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$416.3M	$406.6M	$394.4M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.094B	$3.007B	$2.876B
YoY Change	8.41%	11.39%	7.29%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$333.4M	$324.9M	$316.8M
YoY Change	3.66%	0.62%	-3.59%
Goodwill		$353.3M
YoY Change
Intangibles		$223.2M
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments
YoY Change
Other Assets	$126.9M	$120.5M	$116.8M
YoY Change	9.96%	-6.74%	-8.18%
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.027B	$1.022B	$996.7M
YoY Change	0.31%	-2.89%	-4.8%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.094B	$3.007B	$2.876B
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.027B	$1.022B	$996.7M
Total Assets	$4.121B	$4.029B	$3.873B
YoY Change	6.27%	7.39%	3.9%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$61.70M	$65.00M	$64.00M
YoY Change	-6.09%	7.79%	-1.69%
Accrued Expenses	$52.90M	$37.50M	$41.80M
YoY Change	-12.56%	-20.21%	-3.02%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$175.2M	$175.3M	$175.3M
YoY Change	-22.2%	-22.09%	-24.89%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$536.0M	$546.7M	$538.5M
YoY Change	-7.84%	-4.84%	-9.43%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$1.455B	$1.385B	$1.310B
YoY Change	17.34%	14.94%	12.93%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$142.3M	$61.01M	$140.7M
YoY Change	153.9%	-43.66%	32.74%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$1.597B	$1.550B	$1.451B
YoY Change	13.96%	17.99%	14.59%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$536.0M	$546.7M	$538.5M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$1.597B	$1.550B	$1.451B
Total Liabilities	$2.153B	$2.096B	$2.011B
YoY Change	8.54%	9.76%	6.71%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings		$4.596B
YoY Change
Common Stock		$1.441B
YoY Change
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)		$3.986B
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares			74.33M shares
Shareholders Equity	$2.059B	$1.933B	$1.862B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$4.121B	$4.029B	$3.873B
YoY Change	6.27%	7.39%	3.9%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2015 Q4	2015 Q3	2015 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$116.3M	$105.7M	$96.10M
YoY Change	-23.13%	-6.87%	-0.41%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$21.70M	$22.70M	$11.45M
YoY Change	-8.05%	-23.05%	-44.98%
Cash From Operating Activities	$139.1M	$112.9M	$154.6M
YoY Change	-13.98%	-11.66%	45.44%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$27.00M	-$23.90M	-$21.40M
YoY Change	-20.59%	-14.64%	-6.14%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$3.100M	-$184.2M	-$35.00M
YoY Change	-93.2%	52.74%	12.9%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$30.00M	-$208.1M	-$56.40M
YoY Change	-62.31%	40.04%	4.64%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net			$91.03M
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net			$100.0M
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-9.300M	11.70M	-60.30M
YoY Change	287.5%	-129.92%	137.4%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	139.1M	112.9M	154.6M
Cash From Investing Activities	-30.00M	-208.1M	-56.40M
Cash From Financing Activities	-9.300M	11.70M	-60.30M
Net Change In Cash	99.80M	-83.50M	37.90M
YoY Change	25.22%	39.4%	40.37%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$139.1M	$112.9M	$154.6M
Capital Expenditures	-$27.00M	-$23.90M	-$21.40M
Free Cash Flow	$166.1M	$136.8M	$176.0M
YoY Change	-15.13%	-12.2%	36.33%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	-191000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	11389000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.65
CY2014	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	10634000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	5.70
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	11843000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	3855000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-68021000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-61728000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	8512000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2972116000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	401032000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	482277000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	32274000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	73849000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	337444000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	14884000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	20397000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	35233000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	11467000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-5033000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	53000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Investments GainLossOnInvestments	-1575000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	3000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	1966673000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.20
CY2014	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.07
CY2014	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	5.12
CY2015	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	10123000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	9918000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	5.27
CY2013	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Income Statement Disclosures PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncomeStatementDisclosures	Gains on disposal were $1 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 and were immaterial for 2015 and 2013.
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	-1825000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-31000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-1794000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	-4254000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	-532000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-43000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-489000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	22367000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	347036000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	1709000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	639000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	1070000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	-19361000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTax	-4634000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	-12205000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	-1825000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax	4443000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	-532000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	34797000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	134000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	-27888000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Writedown Of Securities Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForWritedownOfSecuritiesBeforeTax	1575000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	1291000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	33368000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	45287000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	44700000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	560293000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2010368000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1731981000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-399739000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	2382000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	52060000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	334705000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	12955000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	2601000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-69594000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	-25472000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	65488000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	-174000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-107221000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	-21016000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-18619000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-402030000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2196153000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	511648000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	2037000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	32998000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	46393000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	47838000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	440796000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1925816000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	202222000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	28724000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2616000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	172039000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	9669000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	2103000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	164473000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	13181000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	151292000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.82
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	83217000	shares
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.80
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1400000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	15703000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	3656000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	31708000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	38165000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	41530000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-28127000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	-7684000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	484876000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	118450000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	41395000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	2667232000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-464729000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	1032209000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	886644000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	68958000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	301580000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	15842000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	-8666000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-64588000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	4202000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-40239000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	51750000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	37396000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6581000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1583000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	169000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Buildings ProceedsFromSaleOfBuildings	5154000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	4638000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	49888000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	19967000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	18497000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	9634000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	27451000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	16172000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	11115000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	29435000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	15984000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	5784000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	14409000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-13687000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	9566000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	-2287000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	91122000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	27008000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	381673000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	231000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	100012000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	23494000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	325219000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	120140000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	239776000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Impairment Of Long Lived Assets To Be Disposed Of ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsToBeDisposedOf	4718000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	16481000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	15126000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Buildings ProceedsFromSaleOfBuildings	1563000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	1377000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	45000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	48000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	42000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1467357000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1763173000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	153696000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	157677000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	155246000	shares
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	156716000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	181000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	54000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1185000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	727000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	58000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1281000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	211000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	4817000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	5028000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	5496000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	64141000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	68821000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	46564000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	15842000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	15703000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	12955000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	892000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	31211000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	32349000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	32843000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	301580000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	337444000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	334705000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	19000000	USD
CY2014	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	-7429000	USD
CY2015	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.
CY2013	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.
CY2014	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.
CY2015	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</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">. 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, </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">rheometry</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> and </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">calorimetry</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> instruments, which are used in predicting the suitability</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> and stability</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> 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</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">, metals</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> 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</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">, as well as other </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">suppliers</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">' instruments,</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> and are typically purchased by customers as part of the instrument system.</font></p>
CY2015	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. treasury bill money market funds and commercial paper.
CY2014	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	12000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	11000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Income Statement Disclosures PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncomeStatementDisclosures	Gains on disposal were $1 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 and were immaterial for 2015 and 2013.
CY2015	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Additional Narrative Disclosure AccountsReceivableAdditionalNarrativeDisclosure	Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectibility.
CY2012Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	8240000	USD
CY2015	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	6739000	USD
CY2015	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	-6422000	USD
CY2013Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7057000	USD
CY2014	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7551000	USD
CY2013	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	4386000	USD
CY2013	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	-5569000	USD
CY2014Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7179000	USD
CY2015Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7496000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	371173000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	704528000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	684613000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	363030000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	29000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	16749000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	144729000	USD
CY2015	wat	Realized Investment Gains Losses Description RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesDescription	Realized gains and losses on sales of investments were not material in 2015, 2014 and 2013.
CY2013	wat	Realized Investment Gains Losses Description RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesDescription	Realized gains and losses on sales of investments were not material in 2015, 2014 and 2013.
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	88625000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	20901000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	153889000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	84952000	USD
CY2013Q4	wat	Derivative Notional Amount1 DerivativeNotionalAmount1	104000000	USD
CY2014	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-1369000	USD
CY2013	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	361000	USD
CY2013	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	8666000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-1195000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	9027000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	2000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	138000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Additions CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions	33000000	USD
CY2014	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	174000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-1859000	USD
CY2015Q4	wat	Potential Payments Under Licensing Arrangements PotentialPaymentsUnderLicensingArrangements	12000000	USD
CY2014Q4	wat	Derivative Notional Amount1 DerivativeNotionalAmount1	110000000	USD
CY2015Q4	wat	Derivative Notional Amount1 DerivativeNotionalAmount1	116000000	USD
CY2015	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-2601000	USD
CY2015	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	742000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	8390000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	-8307000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	8148000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	-7844000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	12962000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	12353000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	8466000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	-7857000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	11000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	2043996000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	245000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	2474000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	1700666000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	441000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	845000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	828848000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	1137825000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	1635875000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	872872000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	763003000	USD
CY2014	wat	Realized Investment Gains Losses Description RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesDescription	Realized gains and losses on sales of investments were not material in 2015, 2014 and 2013.
CY2014	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	10000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Assets Held For Sale Long Lived Fair Value Disclosure AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure	4000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets	1000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	7000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information Description BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationDescription	The pro forma effect of the ongoing operations for Waters, MPE, the Malaysian sales and service distributor, ElectroForce, Medimass, ULSP, LaserComp, ESS, Nonlinear Dynamics and Scarabaeus, either individually or in the aggregate, as though these acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the periods covered by this report was immaterial.
CY2014	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod	0.0148	pure
CY2015	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod	0.0124	pure
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	88000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	97000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y8M
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	359706000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	339186000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	2000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	132000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAdjustments	-5000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Additions CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions	35000000	USD
CY2015	wat	Intangible Assets Gross Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments IntangibleAssetsGrossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments	-41000000	USD
CY2015	wat	Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments IntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments	-24000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P8Y
CY2014	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P8Y
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	45000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	45000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	45000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	45000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	45000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Number Of Reporting Units NumberOfReportingUnits	2	pure
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	14364000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	14095000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	569008000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	577728000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1668336000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1462693000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P7Y4M
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions	50000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	82.85
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	83.25
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	96.73
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	64.05
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	72000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit LineOfCredit	322000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit LineOfCredit	243000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-5863000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-3723000	USD
CY2013	wat	Effective Tax Rate Percentage Point Change Relating To Infrequent Income Tax Items EffectiveTaxRatePercentagePointChangeRelatingToInfrequentIncomeTaxItems	-6.9	pure
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	66716000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	475203000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	70136000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	420604000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	116067000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	374038000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	66285000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	57537000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	39933000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	20882000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	23071000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	-702000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	3389000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	3791000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	5142000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	48595000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	32258000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	35662000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	189672000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	171759000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	171537000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	34301000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Of Foreign Subsidiaries UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries	3000000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	3342000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2464000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2601000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-112426000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-109240000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-96461000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-7764000	USD
CY2015Q4	wat	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCredits	83428000	USD
CY2014Q4	wat	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCredits	102810000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	8223000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	11979000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	18160000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	18702000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	5396000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	5819000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	4470000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	4104000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	10129000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	9368000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	15871000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	18097000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	174584000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	205180000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	68595000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	82550000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	105989000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	122630000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	15336000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	16253000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	5799000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	8765000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	40059000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	43112000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	65930000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	79518000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	28907000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	18924000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	18094000	USD
CY2015	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Purchase Price Calculation For Shares Of Stock EmployeeStockPurchasePlanPurchasePriceCalculationForSharesOfStock	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.
CY2015	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Maximum Contribution Allowed As Percent Of Employees Earnings EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMaximumContributionAllowedAsPercentOfEmployeesEarnings	0.15	pure
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	48000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	119000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	119000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	96.50
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	3400000	shares
CY2015Q4	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Total Number Of Shares Purchased EmployeeStockPurchasePlanTotalNumberOfSharesPurchased	1300000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	24716000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	19596000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	14450000	USD
CY2015	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-2741000	USD
CY2014	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-5120000	USD
CY2013	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-4395000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	-5000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Tax Adjustments Settlements And Unusual Provisions TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions	4000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-2405000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-35279000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	27000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	30000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	30000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	2200000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	3100000	shares
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	1700000	shares
CY2015	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Plan Period In Months EmployeeStockPurchasePlanPlanPeriodInMonths	P3M
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	70.03
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	60.88
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions	43000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions	40000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	32998000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	33368000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	31708000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	673000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	569000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	428000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	127.63
CY2014	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	112.56
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	35.84
CY2014	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	32.61
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	3280000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	3154000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	1485000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	80.71
CY2015	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P7Y4M
CY2015	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	751000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	1200000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	1000000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	1100000	shares
CY2015	wat	Earnings Per Share Diluted Adjustment EarningsPerShareDilutedAdjustment	-0.05
CY2014	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	793000	shares
CY2014	wat	Earnings Per Share Diluted Adjustment EarningsPerShareDilutedAdjustment	-0.05
CY2013	wat	Earnings Per Share Diluted Adjustment EarningsPerShareDilutedAdjustment	-0.07
CY2015	wat	Retirement Plans Company Contributions To Other Non Us Retirement Plans RetirementPlansCompanyContributionsToOtherNonUSRetirementPlans	11000000	USD
CY2014	wat	Retirement Plans Company Contributions To Other Non Us Retirement Plans RetirementPlansCompanyContributionsToOtherNonUSRetirementPlans	11000000	USD
CY2013	wat	Retirement Plans Company Contributions To Other Non Us Retirement Plans RetirementPlansCompanyContributionsToOtherNonUSRetirementPlans	12000000	USD
CY2015	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.
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	202981000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	204570000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	135843000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	9017000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Next Twelve Months DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths	9380000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Two DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo	11050000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Three DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree	10466000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Four DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour	10925000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Five DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive	11662000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Five Fiscal Years Thereafter DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter	71387000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	130318000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	9046000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	2500000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	123772000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	18115000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	105657000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	82730000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.28
CY2015	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	pure
CY2015	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	2	pure
CY2015	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.68	pure
CY2014	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.70	pure
CY2013	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.71	pure
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	460404000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	189246000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	271158000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	119751000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	28951000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2474000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	119982000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	8975000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	2340000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	113347000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17286000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	96061000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.16
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	83025000	shares
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.15
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	83752000	shares
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	494740000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	208707000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	82564000	shares
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.27
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	83332000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	500578000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	206804000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	293774000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	124655000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	30703000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	12428000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	187719000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	286033000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	122660000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	30555000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2500000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	2736000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	129562000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	13281000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	116281000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.42
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	82036000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.40
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	82784000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	586610000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	237915000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	348695000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	128681000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	28336000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2576000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	181308000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	9205000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	3135000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	175238000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	24184000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	151054000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.85
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	81650000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.83
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	82382000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	3855000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3939000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	430508000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	242789000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	126635000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	24746000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	70302000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.83
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2647000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	88761000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	7489000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	1458000	USD
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	84977000	shares
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.82
CY2014Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	85873000	shares
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	481801000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	201853000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	279948000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	131930000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	26977000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2646000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	118395000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	7971000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	1700000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	112124000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15595000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	96529000	USD
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.14
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	84462000	shares
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.13
CY2014Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	85177000	shares
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	493165000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	290943000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	122226000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	27279000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2725000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	138713000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	9062000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	1762000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	131413000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17916000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	113497000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.36
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	83663000	shares
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.34
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	84401000	shares
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	583870000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	233119000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	350751000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	131916000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	84015000	shares
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	15456000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	93576000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	1363000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	-15318000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	94952000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	1505000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	-13907000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	484000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	892000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	68595000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	82550000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001193125-16-480594-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-16-480594-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-16-480594.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-16-480594-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
d108530d10k.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d108530dex211.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d108530dex231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d108530dex311.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d108530dex312.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d108530dex321.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d108530dex322.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
g108530g83i29.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R10.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R11.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R12.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R13.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R14.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R15.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R16.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R17.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R18.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R19.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R20.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R22.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R23.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R24.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R25.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R26.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R27.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R28.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R29.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R3.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R30.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R31.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R32.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R33.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R34.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R35.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R36.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R37.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R38.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R39.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R40.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R41.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R42.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R43.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R44.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R45.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R46.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R47.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R48.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R49.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R5.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R50.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R51.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R52.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R53.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R54.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R55.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R56.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R57.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R58.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R59.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R6.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R60.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R61.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R62.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R63.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R64.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R65.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R66.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R67.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R68.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R69.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R7.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R70.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R71.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R72.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R73.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R74.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R75.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R8.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R9.htm	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending
wat-20151231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
wat-20151231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
wat-20151231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20151231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20151231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20151231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable

Create your account

Find Stocks Worth Researching

Deeply Understand Businesses

Value Businesses Intelligently

$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312516480594 Filed on February 26, 2016

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$WAT WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312516480594 Filed on February 26, 2016

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat