$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

$wat Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2017 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312518060830 Filed on February 27, 2018

Income Statement

Concept	2017 Q4	2017 Q3	2017
Revenue	$687.3M	$565.6M	$2.309B
YoY Change	9.3%	5.41%	6.54%
Cost Of Revenue	$270.5M	$235.9M	$947.1M
YoY Change	7.5%	7.04%	220.33%
Gross Profit	$416.8M	$329.7M	$1.362B
YoY Change	10.5%	4.27%	-27.23%
Gross Profit Margin	60.65%	58.29%	58.99%
Selling, General & Admin	$148.4M	$135.2M	$544.4M
YoY Change	13.94%	4.34%	6.25%
% of Gross Profit	35.6%	41.01%	39.97%
Research & Development	$35.12M	$33.78M	$132.6M
YoY Change	7.23%	3.7%	5.92%
% of Gross Profit	8.43%	10.25%	9.74%
Depreciation & Amortization	$27.80M	$29.40M	$61.45M
YoY Change	14.4%	19.51%	18.9%
% of Gross Profit	6.67%	8.92%	4.51%
Operating Expenses	$183.5M	$169.0M	$677.0M
YoY Change	12.59%	4.21%	6.19%
Operating Profit	$230.6M	$159.0M	$662.2M
YoY Change	10.67%	4.89%	5.95%
Interest Expense	$15.28M	$14.75M	$56.84M
YoY Change	26.27%	34.3%	26.56%
% of Operating Profit	6.63%	9.28%	8.58%
Other Income/Expense, Net	-$404.0K	$12.00K	-$340.0K
YoY Change			-51.43%
Pretax Income	$225.7M	$153.8M	$641.1M
YoY Change	11.43%	5.74%	6.83%
Income Tax	$578.9M	$17.70M	$620.8M
% Of Pretax Income	256.45%	11.51%	96.83%
Net Earnings	-$353.2M	$131.8M	$20.31M
YoY Change	-382.79%	2.81%	-96.11%
Net Earnings / Revenue	-51.39%	23.3%	0.88%
Basic Earnings Per Share	-$4.44	$1.71	$0.25
Diluted Earnings Per Share	-$4.44	$1.69	$0.25
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	79.45M shares	79.71M shares	79.79M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	79.45M shares	80.52M shares	80.60M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2017 Q4	2017 Q3	2017
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$3.394B	$3.126B	$3.394B
YoY Change	25.09%	20.24%	20.64%
Cash & Equivalents	$642.3M	$603.8M	$447.9M
Short-Term Investments	$2.751B	$2.559B	$2.946B
Other Short-Term Assets	$72.31M	$71.30M	$72.30M
YoY Change	2.73%	-3.39%	2.7%
Inventory	$270.3M	$287.1M	$270.3M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$533.8M	$462.8M	$533.8M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$4.270B	$3.947B	$4.270B
YoY Change	17.46%	15.89%	17.46%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$349.3M	$338.9M	$349.3M
YoY Change	3.61%	2.63%	3.62%
Goodwill	$359.8M
YoY Change	2.2%
Intangibles	$228.4M
YoY Change	10.31%
Long-Term Investments
YoY Change
Other Assets	$116.7M	$134.4M	$116.7M
YoY Change	-10.46%	-5.02%	-10.51%
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.054B	$1.050B	$1.054B
YoY Change	2.69%	0.7%	2.69%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$4.270B	$3.947B	$4.270B
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.054B	$1.050B	$1.054B
Total Assets	$5.324B	$4.997B	$5.324B
YoY Change	14.21%	12.33%	14.21%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$64.54M	$71.10M	$64.50M
YoY Change	-4.73%	7.56%	-4.73%
Accrued Expenses	$82.10M	$47.00M	$82.10M
YoY Change	49.27%	-3.09%	15.8%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$100.3M	$225.2M	$100.3M
YoY Change	-19.89%	79.73%	-19.95%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$606.2M	$653.3M	$606.2M
YoY Change	16.5%	25.01%	16.51%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$1.898B	$1.687B	$1.898B
YoY Change	11.49%	3.4%	11.49%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$62.63M	$128.9M	$130.0M
YoY Change	14.29%	-2.42%	2.04%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$2.484B	$1.816B	$2.028B
YoY Change	35.04%	2.97%	10.83%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$606.2M	$653.3M	$606.2M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$2.484B	$1.816B	$2.028B
Total Liabilities	$3.091B	$2.478B	$3.091B
YoY Change	30.95%	7.8%	30.95%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$5.405B
YoY Change	0.38%
Common Stock	$1.747B
YoY Change	8.57%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$4.808B
YoY Change	7.43%
Treasury Stock Shares	80.51M shares	80.07M shares
Shareholders Equity	$2.234B	$2.519B	$2.234B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$5.324B	$4.997B	$5.324B
YoY Change	14.21%	12.33%	14.21%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2017 Q4	2017 Q3	2017
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	-$353.2M	$131.8M	$20.31M
YoY Change	-382.79%	2.81%	-96.11%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$27.80M	$29.40M	$61.45M
YoY Change	14.4%	19.51%	18.9%
Cash From Operating Activities	$192.1M	$177.1M	$697.6M
YoY Change	38.0%	13.96%	8.51%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$30.20M	-$22.70M	-$90.50M
YoY Change	33.63%	-9.2%	-4.74%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$101.6M	-$174.2M	-$445.3M
YoY Change	-31.54%	288.84%	13.31%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$131.8M	-$196.9M	-$535.8M
YoY Change	-22.92%	181.69%	9.8%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net			$332.5M
YoY Change			2.08%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net			$1.310B
YoY Change			302.74%
Cash From Financing Activities	-24.40M	-9.900M	-63.87M
YoY Change	1184.21%	-61.78%	-44.8%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	192.1M	177.1M	697.6M
Cash From Investing Activities	-131.8M	-196.9M	-535.8M
Cash From Financing Activities	-24.40M	-9.900M	-63.87M
Net Change In Cash	35.90M	-29.70M	136.7M
YoY Change	-206.53%	-149.83%	660.81%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$192.1M	$177.1M	$697.6M
Capital Expenditures	-$30.20M	-$22.70M	-$90.50M
Free Cash Flow	$222.3M	$199.8M	$788.1M
YoY Change	37.39%	10.75%	6.81%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	56839000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	36078000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	401032000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	-4989000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	45000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	45000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	295657000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTax	-4634000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	641097000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	572000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Amortization Of Deferred Charges AmortizationOfDeferredCharges	45000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	10123000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	80023000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	947067000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	78611000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax	3948000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-70481000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-68021000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1460296000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	334705000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	10386000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	52060000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1204000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	39436000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	-4254000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	51684000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	92347000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	606157000	USD
CY2017	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	WAT
CY2016	wat	Maximum Percentage Of Net Sales To Individual Customer MaximumPercentageOfNetSalesToIndividualCustomer	0.02	pure
CY2015	wat	Maximum Percentage Of Net Sales To Individual Customer MaximumPercentageOfNetSalesToIndividualCustomer	0.02	pure
CY2017	wat	Maximum Percentage Of Net Sales To Individual Customer MaximumPercentageOfNetSalesToIndividualCustomer	0.02	pure
CY2017	wat	Percent Of Net Sales To Pharmaceutical Industry PercentOfNetSalesToPharmaceuticalIndustry	0.56	pure
CY2016	wat	Percent Of Net Sales To Pharmaceutical Industry PercentOfNetSalesToPharmaceuticalIndustry	0.56	pure
CY2015	wat	Percent Of Net Sales To Pharmaceutical Industry PercentOfNetSalesToPharmaceuticalIndustry	0.54	pure
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	642319000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	533825000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	270294000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	72314000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	4270134000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	349278000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	228395000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	359819000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	116728000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	5324354000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	100273000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Debt Current DebtCurrent	125297000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	64537000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	67740000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	69024000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	57465000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue And Credits Current DeferredRevenueAndCreditsCurrent	166840000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue And Credits Current DeferredRevenueAndCreditsCurrent	148837000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	73008000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	15244000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	13026000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	13391000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	119449000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	520321000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	1897501000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	1701966000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	67334000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Pension And Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans Liabilities Noncurrent PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrent	72568000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	456949000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	10458000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	62625000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	54797000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Noncurrent LiabilitiesNoncurrent	2484409000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Noncurrent LiabilitiesNoncurrent	1839789000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	3090566000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	2360110000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	1598000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	1586000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1745088000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1607241000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	5405380000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	5385069000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	277042000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	4808211000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	4475667000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-110067000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-216280000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	5324354000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	4662059000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	505631000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	489340000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	262682000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	70391000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3635445000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	337118000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	207055000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	352080000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	130361000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	4662059000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	5000000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	400000000	shares
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	5000000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	400000000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	158634000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	2813000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestments	3394000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	2751382000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	2307401000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.25
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	79793000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.25
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	80604000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	81417000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	6.41
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	80786000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	6.46
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	521503000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	78611000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	600114000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	20686000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	624339000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	125187000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	513031000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	595796000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	2167423000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	707127000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	9889000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1385256000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBeforeTax	4443000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	45287000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	620786000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	20311000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	1647220000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	1543084000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	1474881000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	623214000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Cost Of Services CostOfServices	323853000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	101148000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax	-1794000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-68000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-1726000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	-6791000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Services Net SalesRevenueServicesNet	657076000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	2042332000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods Sold CostOfGoodsSold	565630000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	495747000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	118545000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	567451000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	36243000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	10711000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	541919000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	469053000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	5.7
CY2015	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	82336000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.65
CY2015	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	83087000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.968	pure
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
CY2016	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3524000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	3855000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Goods Net SalesRevenueGoodsNet	1552349000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	2309078000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	544703000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	132593000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	6743000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	661858000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	106213000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	126524000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Gain Loss Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationGainLossArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-66996000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax	2948000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-69554000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	451949000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeTax	3520000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	-380000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	-7832000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	6783000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsAndTax	-191000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	1140000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	17206000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	61450000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	44552000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	3175000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	23494000	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	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	-82549000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	70583000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	697640000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	85473000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	2522100000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-535752000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	1480190000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	2984000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	97789000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	332544000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Derivative Instrument Financing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivativeInstrumentFinancingActivities	-3894000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-63869000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents Continuing Operations EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalentsContinuingOperations	38669000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	136688000	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	-115701000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	485298000	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	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-487918000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Productive Assets PaymentsForProceedsFromProductiveAssets	94967000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	6842000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	642920000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	40998000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	44765000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	2004690000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1705000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	33368000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Adjustment For Amortization AdjustmentForAmortization	44700000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue And Customer Advances And Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRevenueAndCustomerAdvancesAndDeposits	16172000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	573248000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	56503000	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
CY2015	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6581000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	16323000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	24098000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	2436000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingLiabilities	8986000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	5609000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	1076000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	1310214000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	325323000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-4638000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	1500000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Other Assets Investing Activities ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherAssetsInvestingActivities	4000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	5496000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Other Assets Investing Activities ProceedsFromSaleOfOtherAssetsInvestingActivities	5154000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	159845000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	50000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	189000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	53000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	174000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	730000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	972000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Employee Stock Purchase Plans StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans	53000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	727000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation	181000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	6278000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Employee Stock Purchase Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	6875000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	90914000	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
CY2015	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	32843000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	40875000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	40070000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	334705000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	325759000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	332544000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	158634000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Nature Of Operations NatureOfOperations	<div><p style='text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;line-height:12pt;' ><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0pt;' >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;' > </font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >a specialty measurement company that has pioneered analytical workflow solutions involving liquid chromatography, m</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >a</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >ss spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for nearly 60 years. The Company </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 ch</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >romatography (“UPLC</font><sup><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >®</font></sup><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 system</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >s 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 common software platforms</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 a</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >nd measure the chemical, physical and biological composition of materials, and to purify a full range of compounds. MS</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' > technology, principally in conjunction with chromatography, is employed </font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >in drug discovery and development, including clinical trial testi</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >ng, 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 identifica</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >tion 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, rheometry and calorimetry instruments</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' > through its TA</font><sup><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >®</font></sup><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</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' > 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;' >research. The Company is also a developer and supplier of </font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >advanced </font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >software-based products </font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >that interface with the Company’s instruments</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >, as well as other manufacturers’ instruments</font><font style='font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;' >.</font></p></div>
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	851547000	USD
CY2017	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.
CY2017	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Additional Narrative Disclosure AccountsReceivableAdditionalNarrativeDisclosure	Past due balances over 90 days and over a specified amount are reviewed individually for collectibility.
CY2017	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	9059000	USD
CY2017	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	8386000	USD
CY2016	wat	Additions To Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AdditionsToAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	6912000	USD
CY2016	wat	Deductions From Allowance For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns DeductionsFromAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	5751000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Income Statement Disclosures PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncomeStatementDisclosures	Gains on disposal were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
CY2017Q4	wat	Potential Payments Under Licensing Arrangements PotentialPaymentsUnderLicensingArrangements	7000000	USD
CY2017	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.
CY2017	us-gaap	Description Of Foreign Currency Derivative Activities DescriptionOfForeignCurrencyDerivativeActivities	The Company periodically aggregates its net worldwide balances by currency and then enters into foreign currency exchange contracts that mature within 90 days to hedge a portion of the remaining balance to minimize some of the Company’s currency price risk exposure.
CY2016Q4	wat	Derivative Notional Amount1 DerivativeNotionalAmount1	120000000	USD
CY2017Q4	wat	Derivative Notional Amount1 DerivativeNotionalAmount1	147000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	3894000	USD
CY2017	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	1054000	USD
CY2016	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-883000	USD
CY2015	wat	Unrealized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net UnrealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	742000	USD
CY2016	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-10401000	USD
CY2015	wat	Realized Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net RealizedGainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-2601000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	4948000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-11284000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Foreign Currency Derivatives Recorded In Earnings Net GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativesRecordedInEarningsNet	-1859000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	8746000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	9755000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	8390000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	6000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	11000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	11000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	2574100000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	2232142000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	2949502000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	1049000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	4793000	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
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	1722553000	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
CY2015	wat	Realized Investment Gains Losses Description RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesDescription	Realized gains and losses on sales of investments were not material in 2017, 2016 and 2015.
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	99033000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	15324000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	155937000	USD
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
CY2017	wat	Realized Investment Gains Losses Description RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesDescription	Realized gains and losses on sales of investments were not material in 2017, 2016 and 2015.
CY2016	wat	Realized Investment Gains Losses Description RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesDescription	Realized gains and losses on sales of investments were not material in 2017, 2016 and 2015.
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	150667000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	2000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	9000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	5000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	489081000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	838359000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	768549000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	390920000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	7000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	153000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Software Development Costs For Software Sold To Customers CapitalizedSoftwareDevelopmentCostsForSoftwareSoldToCustomers	132000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Additions CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions	35000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Additions CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions	33000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Intangible Assets Gross Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments IntangibleAssetsGrossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments	58000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments IntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortizationForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustments	38000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P7Y
CY2016	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P7Y
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	46000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	46000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	46000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	46000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	431431000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	15000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	15000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	29000000	USD
CY2017	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 and ElectroForce, either individually or in the aggregate, as though these acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of the periods covered by this report was immaterial.
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	472705000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	46000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Number Of Reporting Units NumberOfReportingUnits	2	pure
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	13923000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	13544000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	597975000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill	701100000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Goodwill Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss	8000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1997774000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1827263000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod	0.0149	pure
CY2017	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate During Period LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod	0.0148	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	79000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	91000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit LineOfCredit	273000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit LineOfCredit	297000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	100273000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	150000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	1300000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	350000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	2000273000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	55751000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	585346000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	575276000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	77407000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	66285000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations FederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	535777000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations StateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	26561000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations ForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperations	58448000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	224384000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	1289000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2008000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2601000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-134117000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-1910000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-264000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-3723000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlements	345000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlements	706000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Aggregate Dollar Amount IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount	25000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	61225000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Income Tax Benefits Per Share IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare	0.31
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 Income Tax Benefits Per Share IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare	0.25
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Holiday Aggregate Dollar Amount IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount	20000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Deferred Other Tax Expense Benefit DeferredOtherTaxExpenseBenefit	-3000000	USD
CY2017Q4	wat	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCredits	75630000	USD
CY2016Q4	wat	Deferred Tax Assets Net Operating Loss Carryforwards And Credits DeferredTaxAssetsNetOperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCredits	76027000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5952000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipment	8310000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	9815000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	19609000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	3465000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	4707000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	4864000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	5235000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	8230000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccruals	8814000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	11873000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	15948000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	141263000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	163463000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	62098000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	79165000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	102238000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	19630000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Software DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedSoftware	15323000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	3394000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	5115000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	57278000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	40118000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	21887000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	62120000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	21434000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Employee Compensation DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensation	24813000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	13254000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Goodwill DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsGoodwill	19680000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	9964000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	5843000	USD
CY2017	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-4121000	USD
CY2016	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-3658000	USD
CY2015	wat	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Other Changes UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOtherChanges	-2741000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Tax Adjustments Settlements And Unusual Provisions TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions	-2000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Total Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue	76000000	USD
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
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	140000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Future Minimum License Fees Payable FutureMinimumLicenseFeesPayable	Future minimum license fees payable under existing license agreements as of December 31, 2017 are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2018 and thereafter.
CY2017	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.
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	23168000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	18228000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	14122000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	8652000	USD
CY2017Q4	wat	Future Minimum Rents Payable In Five Years And Thereafter FutureMinimumRentsPayableInFiveYearsAndThereafter	25512000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	27000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	28000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Operating Leases Rent Expense Net OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet	27000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Maximum Contribution Allowed As Percent Of Employees Earnings EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMaximumContributionAllowedAsPercentOfEmployeesEarnings	0.15	pure
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	137000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	124.18
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	2700000	shares
CY2017Q4	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Total Number Of Shares Purchased EmployeeStockPurchasePlanTotalNumberOfSharesPurchased	1400000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	1300000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	1500000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	2000000	shares
CY2017	wat	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Plan Period In Months EmployeeStockPurchasePlanPlanPeriodInMonths	P3M
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	92.26
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	80.71
CY2017	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y7M
CY2017	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P7Y2M
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions	42000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	40998000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	39436000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	33368000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Accelerated Compensation Cost ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost	4000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	389000	shares
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
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	170.24
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	135.02
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	45.73
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 Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	127.63
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
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	2697000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	2039000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	106.55
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	120.59
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	124.41
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	93.49
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	75000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Number Of Exercisable Options ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeNumberOfExercisableOptions	855000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Shares Authorized Under Stock Option Plans Exercise Price Range Exercisable Options Weighted Average Exercise Price1 SharebasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansExercisePriceRangeExercisableOptionsWeightedAverageExercisePrice1	103.63
CY2017	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P7Y5M
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	201151000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	811000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	400000	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
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	631000	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
CY2017	wat	Retirement Plans Company Contributions To Other Non Us Retirement Plans RetirementPlansCompanyContributionsToOtherNonUSRetirementPlans	12000000	USD
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
CY2017	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.
CY2017	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.
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	257488000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Alternative Investments Fair Value Disclosure AlternativeInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	7935000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Alternative Investments Fair Value Disclosure AlternativeInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	7389000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	219355000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Next Twelve Months DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths	11781000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Two DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo	11677000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Three DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree	12347000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Four DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour	12866000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Year Five DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive	13712000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Expected Future Benefit Payments Five Fiscal Years Thereafter DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter	77006000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	497969000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	159034000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	9516000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	153800000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17696000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	136104000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.71
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	79712000	shares
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.69
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	80521000	shares
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	379100000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	pure
CY2017	us-gaap	Number Of Operating Segments NumberOfOperatingSegments	2	pure
CY2017	wat	Percent Of Net Sales Derived From Operations Outside United States PercentOfNetSalesDerivedFromOperationsOutsideUnitedStates	0.71	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
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	130524000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	30752000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	118869000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	7343000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	113487000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7930000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	105557000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.32
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	80073000	shares
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.31
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	80769000	shares
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	558250000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	229627000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	130190000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	32937000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	153785000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	8370000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	148072000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16250000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	131822000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.65
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	79979000	shares
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.63
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	80756000	shares
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	565584000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	235892000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	135194000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	33782000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	406550000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	404465000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	211095000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	475246000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.15
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	526830000	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
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	81275000	shares
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.15
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	81974000	shares
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	536560000	USD
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	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	32578000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	151611000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	10983000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	4827000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	145455000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17238000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	128217000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.59
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	80804000	shares
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.57
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	81455000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	218344000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	123861000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	30418000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	151731000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	11707000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	5426000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	145450000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20594000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	124856000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.55
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	80677000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.53
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	81388000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	628787000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	251579000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	130238000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	32753000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	208335000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	12102000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	6346000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	202579000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	28201000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	174378000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.17
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	80366000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2960379000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	80954000	shares
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
CY2017	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Cost And Expense ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense	-6363000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Charged To Other Accounts ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts	7236000	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
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
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	62098000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	61225000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	687275000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	270453000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	148795000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	35122000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	230170000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	10849000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	225738000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	578910000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-353172000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-4.44
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	79454000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-4.44
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	79454000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	457105000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	159845000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	79337000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	80509000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	5000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3939000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	45510000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Operating Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationOperatingActivities	-13844000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Operating Activities ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationOperatingActivities	-12955000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	1377000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-5000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	24013000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	31721000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	49888000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-731000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	20147000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	19967000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1894666000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	2058851000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	157677000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	2301949000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	2233788000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	13349000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	100000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-1096000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2396032000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2010368000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	5000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	3000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Other Investments PaymentsToAcquireOtherInvestments	7000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Increase Decrease In Tax Assets And Liabilities Related To Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 IncreaseDecreaseInTaxAssetsAndLiabilitiesRelatedToTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017	530383000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	1693000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	1639000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	1729000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Asset Acquired Other Than Through Business Combination Written Off ResearchAndDevelopmentAssetAcquiredOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationWrittenOff	5000000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	1682000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2411000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2644000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2476000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-3524000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Of Acquisition Costs AmortizationOfAcquisitionCosts	2358000	USD
CY2017	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2017-12-31
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Shares Issued SharesIssued	156716000	shares
CY2018Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	78784462	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	487665000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	422177000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	13266000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-1000000	USD
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
CY2017Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	9330000	USD
CY2016Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	8657000	USD
CY2015Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7496000	USD
CY2014Q4	wat	Allowances For Doubtful Accounts And Sales Returns AllowancesForDoubtfulAccountsAndSalesReturns	7179000	USD
CY2015Q4	wat	Derivative Notional Amount1 DerivativeNotionalAmount1	116000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	9111000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	9713000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	8307000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Income Statement Disclosures PropertyPlantAndEquipmentIncomeStatementDisclosures	Gains on disposal were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Undistributed Foreign Earnings DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings	21000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	14450000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	19596000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	828000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	2405000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Accelerated Compensation Cost ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost	7000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	333355000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	68595000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	82550000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Accelerated Compensation Cost ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost	4000000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Accelerated Compensation Cost ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost	7000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlements	-3258000	USD
CY2017	wat	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Amount	550000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	89682000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	12725000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	14083000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	14750000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	15281000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-10018000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	-1000000	USD
CY2017Q4	wat	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Amount	550000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Effective Income Tax Rate Global Intangible Low Taxed Income Years After2018 TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017EffectiveIncomeTaxRateGlobalIntangibleLowTaxedIncomeYearsAfter2018	0.13125	pure
CY2017	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Effective Income Tax Rate Global Intangible Low Taxed Income Years2018 To20251 TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017EffectiveIncomeTaxRateGlobalIntangibleLowTaxedIncomeYears2018To20251	0.105	pure
CY2017	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Deduction Dividend Percent1 TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionDividendPercent1	1	pure
CY2017	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Income Tax Expense Benefit State Income Taxes And Foreign Withholding Taxes TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitStateIncomeTaxesAndForeignWithholdingTaxes	40000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Subsequent Event Description SubsequentEventDescription	In February 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved expanding its chemistry synthesis operations. The Company anticipates spending an estimated $215 million to build and equip this new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which will be paid for with existing cash and investments. The Company does not expect to issue any debt in relation to this expansion.
CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	-11114000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Deductions Other IncomeTaxReconciliationDeductionsOther	19566000	USD
CY2017	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Income Tax Expense Benefit Payment Period TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitPaymentPeriod	P8Y
CY2017	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Income Tax Expense Benefit TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	490000000	USD
CY2017Q4	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Liability Current TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsLiabilityCurrent	40000000	USD
CY2017Q4	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsLiabilityNoncurrent	450000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Change In Tax Rate Income Tax Expense Benefit TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017ChangeInTaxRateIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20000000	USD
CY2017	wat	Effective Tax Rate Percentage Point Change Relating To New Accounting Pronouncement EffectiveTaxRatePercentagePointChangeRelatingToNewAccountingPronouncement	0.031	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001193125-18-060830-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-18-060830-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-18-060830.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001193125-18-060830-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
d506350d10k.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d506350dex1036.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d506350dex211.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d506350dex231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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d506350dex321.htm	Edgar Link	pending
d506350dex322.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
g506350g86e38.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending
wat-20171231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
wat-20171231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
wat-20171231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20171231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20171231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
wat-20171231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable

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$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

2017 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312518060830 Filed on February 27, 2018

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$WAT WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat

2017 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312518060830 Filed on February 27, 2018

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$WAT
WATERS CORP /DE/ Stock $wat