15. Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 2007 through 2011 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Scenario, Actual [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Quantifying Misstatement in Current Year Financial Statements [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,132,694,000	$ 2,069,235,000	$ 2,073,529,000		$ 602,600,000	$ 505,100,000	$ 525,300,000	$ 499,700,000	$ 573,800,000	$ 498,700,000	$ 510,400,000	$ 486,300,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 602,600,000	$ 505,100,000	$ 525,300,000	$ 499,700,000	$ 573,800,000	$ 498,700,000	$ 510,400,000	$ 486,300,000
Gross profit	1,178,478,000	1,155,158,000	1,178,829,000		322,700,000	284,200,000	300,100,000	271,400,000	314,500,000	273,800,000	288,100,000	278,700,000	0	0	0	0	400,000	300,000	200,000	100,000	322,700,000	284,200,000	300,100,000	271,400,000	314,100,000	273,500,000	287,900,000	278,600,000
Net income attributable to Bio-Rad	77,790,000	165,477,000	179,013,000		30,100,000	(7,100,000)	34,600,000	20,200,000	43,200,000	42,600,000	48,100,000	31,500,000	0	0	(100,000)	700,000	1,200,000	200,000	(200,000)	500,000	30,100,000	(7,100,000)	34,700,000	19,500,000	42,000,000	42,400,000	48,300,000	31,000,000
Basic earnings per share	$ 2.72	$ 5.85	$ 6.39		$ 1.05	$ (0.25)	$ 1.21	$ 0.71	$ 1.52	$ 1.51	$ 1.70	$ 1.12	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)	$ 0.02	$ 1.05	$ (0.25)	$ 1.22	$ 0.68	$ 1.48	$ 1.50	$ 1.71	$ 1.10
Diluted earnings per share	$ 2.69	$ 5.78	$ 6.29		$ 1.04	$ (0.25)	$ 1.20	$ 0.70	$ 1.51	$ 1.49	$ 1.68	$ 1.10	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.02	$ 0.05	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ 1.04	$ (0.25)	$ 1.20	$ 0.68	$ 1.46	$ 1.48	$ 1.69	$ 1.09
Quantifying Misstatement Amount				$ 6,100,000