Business Segment Information - Summary of Net Sales for Company's Products and Services (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021	Oct. 01, 2022	Oct. 02, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 708,555	$ 659,233	$ 2,113,446	$ 1,949,425
Waters Instrument Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	274,869	240,475	825,677	717,910
Chemistry Consumables [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	128,096	123,045	385,661	368,478
TA Instrument Systems [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	61,958	55,613	174,055	155,722
Total product sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	464,923	419,133	1,385,393	1,242,110
Waters Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	220,436	218,291	660,371	644,625
TA Service [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	23,196	21,809	67,682	62,690
Total service sales [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 243,632	$ 240,100	$ 728,053	$ 707,315