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12/31/2010 USD ($) $FROM_Jan01_2010_TO_Dec31_2010_us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis_TaServiceMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001000697duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTA service [Member]us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwat_TaServiceMemberus-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$25falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis} : TA service [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $FROM_Jan01_2009_TO_Dec31_2009_us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis_TaServiceMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001000697duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTA service [Member]us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwat_TaServiceMemberus-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$26falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis} : TA service [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $FROM_Jan01_2008_TO_Dec31_2008_us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis_TaServiceMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001000697duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTA service [Member]us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwat_TaServiceMemberus-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTA service [Member]21true0wat_EntityWideInformationLineItemswatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseEntity-Wide Information [Line Items]22false0us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse4239200042392falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse3824000038240falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11truefalsefalse3682900036829falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 truefalseService sales23false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.waters.com/role/disclosurebusinesssegmentinformationdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse27falsefalseUSDtruefalse{wat_GeographicAreaAxis} : United States [Member] 1/1/2010 - 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Examples include land, buildings, and production equipment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b, c Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 -Article 7 falsefalseLong-lived assets27false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.waters.com/role/disclosurebusinesssegmentinformationdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse30falsefalseUSDtruefalse{wat_GeographicAreaAxis} : Europe [Member] 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $FROM_Jan01_2010_TO_Dec31_2010_wat_GeographicAreaAxis_EuropeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001000697duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEurope [Member]wat_GeographicAreaAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwat_EuropeMemberwat_GeographicAreaAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$31falsefalseUSDtruefalse{wat_GeographicAreaAxis} : Europe [Member] 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) $FROM_Jan01_2009_TO_Dec31_2009_wat_GeographicAreaAxis_EuropeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001000697duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEurope [Member]wat_GeographicAreaAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwat_EuropeMemberwat_GeographicAreaAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$32falsefalseUSDtruefalse{wat_GeographicAreaAxis} : Europe [Member] 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $FROM_Jan01_2008_TO_Dec31_2008_wat_GeographicAreaAxis_EuropeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001000697duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseEurope [Member]wat_GeographicAreaAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwat_EuropeMemberwat_GeographicAreaAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEurope [Member]28true0wat_EntityWideInformationLineItemswatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseEntity-Wide Information [Line Items]29false0us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse494638000494638falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse495646000495646falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11truefalsefalse545620000545620falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 truefalseTotal net sales30false0us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse3254800032548falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse3428500034285falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9truefalsefalse3254800032548falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10truefalsefalse3428500034285falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, and production equipment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b, c Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 -Article 7 falsefalseLong-lived assets31false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.waters.com/role/disclosurebusinesssegmentinformationdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse33falsefalseUSDtruefalse{wat_GeographicAreaAxis} : Japan [Member] 1/1/2010 - 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Examples include land, buildings, and production equipment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b, c Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 -Article 7 falsefalseLong-lived assets35false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.waters.com/role/disclosurebusinesssegmentinformationdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse36falsefalseUSDtruefalse{wat_GeographicAreaAxis} : Asia [Member] 1/1/2010 - 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Examples include land, buildings, and production equipment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b, c Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 -Article 7 falsefalseLong-lived assets1141Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue