CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014 Product liability claims lawsuit	Mar. 31, 2014 Product liability claims	Jun. 30, 2014 Product liability claims lawsuit	Jun. 30, 2014 da Vinci Multi-Plaintiff Lawsuit Product liability claims Plaintiff patient_record state	Jul. 16, 2014 Subsequent Event Police Retirement System of St. Louis v. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. et al. [Member]
Commitments and Contingencies [Line Items]
Additional loss contingency accrual	$ 9.6	$ 67.4
Number of days plaintiffs will have from entry of judgment to seek rehearing or rehearing en banc					14 days
Number of lawsuits	95		95
Number of patients in lawsuit				17
Number of states in lawsuit				11
Number of patient records received and evaluated				2,300
Number of claims added			4,400
Number of claims voluntarily removed			2,500
Loss contingency liability	$ 72.4		$ 72.4