12. Commitments & Contingent Liabilities	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES Rents and Leases Net rental expense under operating leases was $45.5 million, $41.4 million and $42.4 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Leases are principally for facilities and automobiles. Annual future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2013 under operating leases are as follows: 2014 - $39.1 million; 2015 - $30.1 million; 2016 - $24.0 million; 2017 - $18.6 million; and 2018 and beyond - $49.8 million. Deferred Profit Sharing Retirement Plan We have a profit sharing plan covering substantially all U.S. employees. Contributions are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Bio-Rad has no liability other than for the current year’s contribution. Contribution expense was $13.5 million, $12.1 million and $12.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Other Post-Employment Benefits In several foreign locations we are statutorily required to provide a lump sum severance or termination indemnity to our employees. Under these plans, the vested benefit obligation at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $46.3 million and $39.5 million, respectively, and has been included in Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These plans are not required to be funded, and as such, there is no trust or other device used to accumulate assets to settle these obligations. Purchase Obligations As of December 31, 2013, we had obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet of $99.0 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty. The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 are as follows: 2015 to 2016 - $32.3 million, 2017 to 2018 - $7.3 million and after 2018 - $59.4 million. As of December 31, 2013, we had purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet of $65.4 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty. The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 are as follows: 2014 - $57.4 million, 2015 - $7.2 million, 2016 - $0.4 million and 2017 - $0.4 million. Letters of Credit In the ordinary course of business, we are at times required to post letters of credit. The letters of credit are issued by our banks to guarantee our obligations to various parties including insurance companies. We were contingently liable for $8.2 million of standby letters of credit with banks as of December 31, 2013. Contingent Consideration During the fourth quarter of 2011, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of QuantaLife related to potential future payments due upon the achievement of certain sales and development milestones. The contingent consideration was initially recognized at its estimated fair value of $24.1 million, based on a probability-weighted income approach. As of the acquisition date of October 4, 2011, total contingent consideration could have originally reached a maximum of $48 million upon the achievement of all sales milestones and a development milestone. The development milestone was met as of December 31, 2012, resulting in a payment of $6.0 million in January 2013. During 2012, the first three short-term sales milestones were not met and therefore the fair value of the contingent consideration was lowered by $16.1 million and credited to Selling, general and administrative expense. During 2013, we did not expect that any of the remaining sales milestones would be met and therefore $2.0 million of the remaining contingent consideration liability was credited to Selling, general and administrative expense. During the third quarter of 2012, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of a new cell sorting system from Propel Labs, Inc. The fair value of the contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach related to the achievement of certain development and sales milestones and was recorded at $44.6 million in 2012. The development milestones have been achieved and payments totaling $20.0 million were made in 2013. Based on the most recent valuation, the sales milestones could potentially range from $0 to a maximum of 60.0%, 51.32% and 50.38% of annual cell sorting system purchase orders, with payment to occur upon the anniversary of the completion of a certain number of cell sorting systems for three consecutive years, respectively. These maximum payout ratios begin at annual cell sorting system purchase orders in excess of $20 million, $30 million and $45 million for the three consecutive years, respectively. The contingent consideration was revalued by a net reduction of $3.8 million to Selling, general and administrative expense to its estimated fair value of $20.8 million as of December 31, 2013. Concentrations of Labor Subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements At December 31, 2013, approximately seven percent of Bio-Rad's approximately 3,000 U.S. employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which will expire on November 8, 2016. Many of Bio-Rad's non-U.S. full-time employees, especially in France, are covered by collective bargaining agreements.

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Rents and Leases

Net rental expense under operating leases was $45.5 million, $41.4 million and $42.4 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Leases are principally for facilities and automobiles.

Annual future minimum lease payments at December 31, 2013 under operating leases are as follows: 2014 - $39.1 million; 2015 - $30.1 million; 2016 - $24.0 million; 2017 - $18.6 million; and 2018 and beyond - $49.8 million.

Deferred Profit Sharing Retirement Plan

We have a profit sharing plan covering substantially all U.S. employees. Contributions are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Bio-Rad has no liability other than for the current year’s contribution. Contribution expense was $13.5 million, $12.1 million and $12.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Other Post-Employment Benefits

In several foreign locations we are statutorily required to provide a lump sum severance or termination indemnity to our employees. Under these plans, the vested benefit obligation at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $46.3 million and $39.5 million, respectively, and has been included in Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These plans are not required to be funded, and as such, there is no trust or other device used to accumulate assets to settle these obligations.

Purchase Obligations

As of December 31, 2013, we had obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet of $99.0 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty.

The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 are as follows: 2015 to 2016 - $32.3 million, 2017 to 2018 - $7.3 million and after 2018 - $59.4 million.

As of December 31, 2013, we had purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet of $65.4 million, which include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding to Bio-Rad and that specify all significant terms and exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty.

The annual future fixed and determinable portion of our purchase obligations that have not been recognized on our balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 are as follows: 2014 - $57.4 million, 2015 - $7.2 million, 2016 - $0.4 million and 2017 - $0.4 million.

Letters of Credit

In the ordinary course of business, we are at times required to post letters of credit. The letters of credit are issued by our banks to guarantee our obligations to various parties including insurance companies. We were contingently liable for $8.2 million of standby letters of credit with banks as of December 31, 2013.

Contingent Consideration

During the fourth quarter of 2011, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of QuantaLife related to potential future payments due upon the achievement of certain sales and development milestones. The contingent consideration was initially recognized at its estimated fair value of $24.1 million, based on a probability-weighted income approach. As of the acquisition date of October 4, 2011, total contingent consideration could have originally reached a maximum of $48 million upon the achievement of all sales milestones and a development milestone. The development milestone was met as of December 31, 2012, resulting in a payment of $6.0 million in January 2013. During 2012, the first three short-term sales milestones were not met and therefore the fair value of the contingent consideration was lowered by $16.1 million and credited to Selling, general and administrative expense. During 2013, we did not expect that any of the remaining sales milestones would be met and therefore $2.0 million of the remaining contingent consideration liability was credited to Selling, general and administrative expense.

During the third quarter of 2012, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of a new cell sorting system from Propel Labs, Inc. The fair value of the contingent consideration was based on a probability-weighted income approach related to the achievement of certain development and sales milestones and was recorded at $44.6 million in 2012. The development milestones have been achieved and payments totaling $20.0 million were made in 2013. Based on the most recent valuation, the sales milestones could potentially range from $0 to a maximum of 60.0%, 51.32% and 50.38% of annual cell sorting system purchase orders, with payment to occur upon the anniversary of the completion of a certain number of cell sorting systems for three consecutive years, respectively. These maximum payout ratios begin at annual cell sorting system purchase orders in excess of $20 million, $30 million and $45 million for the three consecutive years, respectively. The contingent consideration was revalued by a net reduction of $3.8 million to Selling, general and administrative expense to its estimated fair value of $20.8 million as of December 31, 2013.

Concentrations of Labor Subject to Collective Bargaining Agreements

At December 31, 2013, approximately seven percent of Bio-Rad's approximately 3,000 U.S. employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which will expire on November 8, 2016. Many of Bio-Rad's non-U.S. full-time employees, especially in France, are covered by collective bargaining agreements.