Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Venture
Beginning balances (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			38.8
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 5,820.5	$ 0.0	$ 4,211.8	$ 1,617.6	$ (8.9)	$ 5,820.5	$ 0.0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Three-for-one stock split (shares)			77.6
Three-for-one stock split		0.0	$ 0.1	(0.1)
Issuance of common stock through employee stock plans (shares)			3.4
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture		415.5		415.5			415.5
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards (shares)			(0.2)
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards		(56.6)		(5.1)	(51.5)		(56.6)
Share-based compensation expense related to employee stock plans		209.1		209.1			209.1
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (shares)			(7.3)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		(2,274.0)		(152.0)	(2,122.0)		(2,274.0)
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.		670.9			670.9		670.9
Other comprehensive loss		(6.6)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(6.6)				(6.6)	(6.6)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest		2.0						2.0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture		(0.4)						(0.4)
Ending balances (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			112.3
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017		4,780.4	$ 0.1	4,679.2	115.0	(15.5)	4,778.8	1.6
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of new accounting standard	[1]	390.8			392.1	(1.3)	390.8
Issuance of common stock through employee stock plans (shares)			2.5
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture		236.6		236.6			236.6
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards (shares)			(0.3)
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards		(120.0)		(6.7)	(113.3)		(120.0)
Share-based compensation expense related to employee stock plans		261.2		261.2			261.2
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.		1,127.9			1,127.9		1,127.9
Other comprehensive loss		2.2
Other comprehensive income		3.5				3.5	3.5
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest		10.0						10.0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture		$ (2.9)						(2.9)
Ending balances (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		114.5	114.5
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 6,687.5	$ 0.1	5,170.3	1,521.7	(13.3)	6,678.8	8.7
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock through employee stock plans (shares)			2.4
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, after Forfeiture		272.8		272.8			272.8
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards (shares)			(0.3)
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards		(159.1)		(7.6)	(151.5)		(159.1)
Share-based compensation expense related to employee stock plans		335.8		335.8			335.8
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (shares)			(0.6)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		(269.5)		(14.5)	(255.0)		(269.5)
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.		1,379.3			1,379.3		1,379.3
Other comprehensive loss		25.7
Other comprehensive income (loss)		25.4				25.7	25.7	(0.3)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest		10.0						10.0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture		$ 2.5						2.5
Ending balances (shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		116.0	116.0
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 8,284.7	$ 0.1	$ 5,756.8	$ 2,494.5	$ 12.4	$ 8,263.8	$ 20.9

[1] (1) Represents the adjustments related to the adoptions of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfer of Assets Other than Inventory, and ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.