Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total Bio Rad [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,540,519
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010								3,823
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		3	156,986	0	1,181,687	198,020	1,536,696
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	179,013				179,013		179,013
Net Income	(200)							(200)
Net income	178,813
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						670	670
Other comprehensive income, net of tax								189
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	859
Issuance of common stock	14,249		14,249				14,249
Stock compensation expense	10,738		10,738				10,738
Tax benefit-exercise stock options	3,582		3,582				3,582
Purchase of additional controlling interests and other	(3,588)		(221)				(221)	(3,367)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,747,322
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011								445
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		3	185,334	0	1,362,850	198,690	1,746,877
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	165,477				165,477		165,477
Net Income	69							69
Net income	165,546
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						75,842	75,842
Other comprehensive income, net of tax								21
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	75,863					75,800	75,800	0
Issuance of common stock	10,611		10,611				10,611
Stock compensation expense	12,936		12,936				12,936
Tax benefit-exercise stock options	3,363		3,363				3,363
Purchase of treasury stock	101			101			101
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	2,015,540
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	535							535
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	2,015,005	3	212,244	(101)	1,528,327	274,532	2,015,005
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	77,790				77,790		77,790
Net Income	21							21
Net income	77,811
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						66,185	66,185
Other comprehensive income, net of tax								164
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	66,349					66,400	66,200	200
Issuance of common stock	11,237		11,237				11,237
Stock compensation expense	13,657		13,657				13,657
Tax benefit-exercise stock options	3,135		3,135				3,135
Purchase of additional controlling interests and other	(1,007)		(287)				(287)	(720)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	2,186,722
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	0							0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 2,186,722	$ 3	$ 239,986	$ (101)	$ 1,606,117	$ 340,717	$ 2,186,722