2. Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Forward foreign exchange contract to sell foreign currency [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional value	$ 37.8
Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedging Instruments	(0.1)
Forward foreign exchange contract to purchase foreign currency [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Notional value	327.6
Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments not Designated as Hedging Instruments	$ (0.5)

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativesFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings in the period from the increase (decrease) in fair value of foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5618551-113959

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=bio_ForwardforeignexchangecontracttosellforeigncurrencyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=bio_ForwardforeignexchangecontracttopurchaseforeigncurrencyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: