$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

$wat Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312517056239 Filed on February 24, 2017

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
CY2014	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1346729000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	151611000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	82336000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	1474881000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-13687000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	1543084000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	-21016000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	513031000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	125187000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	9889000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3524000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	6.41
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	81417000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	83087000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.65
CY2015	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	5.70
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	541919000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	6.46
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	80786000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	36243000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	567451000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	118545000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	495747000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	565630000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	2042332000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	657076000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1385256000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	10123000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	642615000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	1989344000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	549121000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	275792000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	512707000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	10634000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	517908000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	34191000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	7023000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	490740000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	59120000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	431620000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	5.12
CY2014	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	84358000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.07
CY2014	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	85151000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.131	pure
CY2015	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.134	pure
CY2014	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.120	pure
CY2015	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	3855000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3939000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	15456000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1460296000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	707127000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	2167423000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	624339000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	44911000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	20686000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	600114000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	78611000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	521503000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	1471436000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	595796000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	295657000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	279000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-111000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	390000	USD
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
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
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax	3263000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax	2886000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	40998000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	51684000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	44765000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	629076000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2396032000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	2004690000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-487918000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1705000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	62189000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	325759000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	13844000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	10401000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-101857000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	-21335000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	17966000	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
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	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-399739000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2010368000	USD
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
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	94967000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	5609000	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
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	422177000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1731981000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	2382000	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
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 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	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	511648000	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	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2196153000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1925816000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-402030000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1400000	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
CY2014	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities	15703000	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	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-18619000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	50007000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	43595000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	51750000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	37396000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	60971000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	34332000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6581000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1583000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	31721000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	20147000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	4806000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	1076000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	6842000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	9974000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	8986000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	485298000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	325323000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	120140000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	325219000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	4638000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	3000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	45000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	45000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	48000000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	1500000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	1377000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Other Assets Investing Activities ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherAssetsInvestingActivities	5154000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Other Assets Investing Activities ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherAssetsInvestingActivities	4000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Other Assets Investing Activities ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherAssetsInvestingActivities	1563000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	2370000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	1291000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	2037000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	174000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	53000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	181000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	727000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1185000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	231000	shares
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
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	6278000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	55911000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalTaxEffectFromShareBasedCompensation	13844000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	157677000	shares
CY2013Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7057000	USD
CY2016	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	6912000	USD
CY2016	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 (</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">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</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">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. </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">In addition</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">, the Company 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</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> through its TA</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">®</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> product line. These instruments </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">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 </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">life science</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">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>
CY2016	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.
CY2016	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Additional Narrative Disclosure AccountsReceivableAdditionalNarrativeDisclosure	Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectibility.
CY2016	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	-5751000	USD
CY2014Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7179000	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
CY2015Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7496000	USD
CY2016Q4	wat	Potential Payments Under Licensing Arrangements PotentialPaymentsUnderLicensingArrangements	12000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Description Of Foreign Currency Exposure DescriptionOfForeignCurrencyExposure	The Company is a global company that operates in over 35 countries and, as a result, the Company’s net sales, cost of sales, operating expenses and balance sheet amounts are significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
CY2016	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-4000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	3000000	USD
CY2016	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-10401000	USD
CY2015	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	742000	USD
CY2014	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-1369000	USD
CY2015	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-2601000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-1859000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-1195000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	8390000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	-8307000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	13266000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	12962000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	11000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	12000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	2434145000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	819000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	2769000	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
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	1388537000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	843605000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	2232142000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	1137825000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	828848000	USD
CY2016	wat	Realized Investment Gains Losses Description RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesDescription	Realized gains and losses on sales of investments were not material in 2016, 2015 and 2014.
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	95430000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	16585000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	150667000	USD
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
CY2016	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	9000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	5000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	5000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	2000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	132000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	132000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Additions CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions	33000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	431431000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	768549000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	704528000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	371173000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	29000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	10000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	4000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1668336000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod	0.0149	pure
CY2016	us-gaap	Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information Description BusinessAcquisitionProFormaInformationDescription	The pro forma effect of the ongoing operations for Waters Corporation, Rubotherm, MPE, the Malaysian sales and service distributor, ElectroForce, Medimass and ULSP, either individually or in the aggregate, as though these acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the periods covered by this report was immaterial.
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	390920000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	359706000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	0	USD
CY2016	wat	Intangible Assets Gross Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments IntangibleAssetsGrossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments	-21000000	USD
CY2016	wat	Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments IntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments	-13000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P7Y
CY2015	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P8Y
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	45000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	45000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	45000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	45000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	45000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Number Of Reporting Units NumberOfReportingUnits	2	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	13544000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	14364000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	577728000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	597975000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Goodwill Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss	-9000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1827263000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	79000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit LineOfCredit	297000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	125297000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	100000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	1105000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	150000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	350000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	1830297000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	35154000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	564960000	USD
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
CY2016	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	77407000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	66285000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	57537000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	19693000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	3090000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	55828000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	210040000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlements	345000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2008000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-133518000	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
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-5863000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-3723000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-264000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlements	-3258000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Aggregate Dollar Amount IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount	23000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Income Tax Benefits Per Share IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare	0.29
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Aggregate Dollar Amount IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount	20000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Income Tax Benefits Per Share IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare	0.25
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Income Tax Benefits Per Share IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare	0.24
CY2014	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Aggregate Dollar Amount IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount	20000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Deferred Other Tax Expense Benefit DeferredOtherTaxExpenseBenefit	-3000000	USD
CY2016Q4	wat	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCredits	76027000	USD
CY2015Q4	wat	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCredits	83428000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	8310000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	8223000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	19609000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	18160000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	4707000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	5396000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	5235000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	4470000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	8814000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	10129000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	15948000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	13361000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	10855000	USD
CY2014	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-5120000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	-5000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-828000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	15871000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	163463000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	174584000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	61225000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	68595000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	102238000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	105989000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	15323000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	15336000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	5115000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	5799000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	40118000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	40059000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	62120000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	65930000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	24813000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	28907000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Of Foreign Subsidiaries UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries	3000000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	19680000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	18924000	USD
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
CY2016	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-3658000	USD
CY2015	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-2741000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	-2405000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Tax Adjustments Settlements And Unusual Provisions TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions	-2000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	21864000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	16877000	USD
CY2016Q4	wat	Future Minimum Rents Payable In Five Years And Thereafter FutureMinimumRentsPayableInFiveYearsAndThereafter	27152000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	28000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	27000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	27000000	USD
CY2016	wat	Future Minimum License Fees Payable FutureMinimumLicenseFeesPayable	Future minimum license fees payable under existing license agreements as of December 31, 2016 are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2017 and thereafter.
CY2016	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.
CY2016	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Maximum Contribution Allowed As Percent Of Employees Earnings EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMaximumContributionAllowedAsPercentOfEmployeesEarnings	0.15	pure
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	53000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	48000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	63000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	76000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	76000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	106.34
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	3100000	shares
CY2016Q4	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Total Number Of Shares Purchased EmployeeStockPurchasePlanTotalNumberOfSharesPurchased	1400000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	1500000	shares
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	1700000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	2700000	shares
CY2016	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Plan Period In Months EmployeeStockPurchasePlanPlanPeriodInMonths	P3M
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	80.71
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CY2016	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P6Y0M
CY2016	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P7Y2M
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions	44000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	33368000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	32998000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Accelerated Compensation Cost ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost	7000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	135.02
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	324000	shares
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
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	127.63
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	37.44
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 Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	112.56
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
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	3154000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	2697000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	96.73
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	109.53
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	106.55
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	76.55
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	51000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	1310000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	92.26
CY2016	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P7Y4M
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	631000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	900000	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
CY2016	wat	Earnings Per Share Diluted Adjustment EarningsPerShareDilutedAdjustment	-0.05
CY2015	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	751000	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
CY2016	wat	Retirement Plans Company Contributions To Other Non Us Retirement Plans RetirementPlansCompanyContributionsToOtherNonUSRetirementPlans	12000000	USD
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
CY2016	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.
CY2016	us-gaap	Fair Value Investments Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share Investment Redemption Description FairValueInvestmentsEntitiesThatCalculateNetAssetValuePerShareInvestmentRedemptionDescription	The redemption terms for the hedge funds are generally quarterly with a 90 day notification period and there are no redemption restrictions.
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	219355000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Alternative Investments Fair Value Disclosure AlternativeInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	7389000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Alternative Investments Fair Value Disclosure AlternativeInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	7395000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	204570000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Next Twelve Months DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths	11897000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Two DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo	10781000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Three DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree	10939000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Four DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour	11743000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Five DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive	12498000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Five Fiscal Years Thereafter DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter	73201000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	32578000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2411000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	pure
CY2016	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	2	pure
CY2016	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.69	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
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	321583000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	129351000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	29438000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	112662000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	10119000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	4087000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	106630000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	12578000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	94052000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.16
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CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	81974000	shares
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CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	220379000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	129581000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	10983000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	4827000	USD
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CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17238000	USD
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CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.59
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CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	81455000	shares
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	30418000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2476000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	11707000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	5426000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20594000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	130238000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	32753000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2358000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	12102000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	6346000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	28201000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	174378000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	80954000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3524000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	362584000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	384949000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	375099000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	420452000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	201151000	USD
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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
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	500578000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	206804000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	124655000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	30703000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2573000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	135843000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	9017000	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	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	23961000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	151277000	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	1.84
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
CY2015	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	842672000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3939000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	340422000	USD
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	364422000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	364735000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	405302000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	82550000	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
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
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	61225000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	68595000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	94952000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	-5473000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	-1897000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001193125-17-056239-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-17-056239-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-17-056239.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-17-056239-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
d268303d10k.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d268303dex1035.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d268303dex1036.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d268303dex211.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d268303dex231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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d268303dex321.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d268303dex322.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
g268303g10i68.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-20161231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
wat-20161231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
wat-20161231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20161231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20161231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20161231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable

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$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312517056239 Filed on February 24, 2017

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

#000119312517056239 Filed on February 24, 2017

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat