Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Apr. 14, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-30713
Entity Registrant Name	Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization	DE
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.	77-0416458
Entity Address, Address Line One	1020 Kifer Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Sunnyvale
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94086
City Area Code	408
Local Phone Number	523-2100
Title of each class	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	ISRG
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		116,617,784
Entity Central Index Key	0001035267
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false