1.0.0.3 false Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands false 1 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDperShareItemType Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 false 2 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDperShareItemType Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 5 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 Net Income 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 200325000 200325 false false 2 true true 203235000 203235 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows used for operating activities: 4 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 8 Depreciation 5 us-gaap_Depreciation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 112812000 112812 false false 2 false true 119444000 119444 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 Amortization 5 us-gaap_AdjustmentForAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 13719000 13719 false false 2 false true 8710000 8710 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Asset impairments and disposals 5 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 12616000 12616 false false 2 false true 8646000 8646 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Deferred income taxes 5 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -27086000 -27086 false false 2 false true -3587000 -3587 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Share-based compensation 5 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 35030000 35030 false false 2 false true 25089000 25089 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Increase (decrease) from changes in assets and liabilities: 4 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 14 Accounts receivable 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -545404000 -545404 false false 2 false true -752916000 -752916 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Inventories 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -81242000 -81242 false false 2 false true -374560000 -374560 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -31698000 -31698 false false 2 false true -18303000 -18303 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and income taxes payable 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 23155000 23155 false false 2 false true 105339000 105339 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Other, net 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -31034000 -31034 false false 2 false true 12326000 12326 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Net cash flows used for operating activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -318807000 -318807 false false 2 false true -666577000 -666577 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 20 Cash Flows From Investing Activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 21 Purchases of tools, dies, and molds 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireOtherPropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -57615000 -57615 false false 2 false true -58031000 -58031 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Purchases of other property, plant, and equipment 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -32837000 -32837 false false 2 false true -80466000 -80466 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 Increase in long-term investments 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -85300000 -85300 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 24 Payments for businesses acquired 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -23451000 -23451 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Proceeds from sale of investments 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 67134000 67134 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 26 Proceeds from sale of other property, plant, and equipment 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 454000 454 false false 2 false true 4949000 4949 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Proceeds from foreign currency forward exchange contracts 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromDerivatives us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 20214000 20214 false false 2 false true 18298000 18298 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Net cash flows used for investing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -2650000 -2650 false false 2 false true -224001000 -224001 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 29 Cash Flows From Financing Activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 30 Payments of short-term borrowings 4 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -294392000 -294392 false false 2 false true -451263000 -451263 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Proceeds from short-term borrowings 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromShortTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 453090000 453090 false false 2 false true 633410000 633410 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 32 Payments of long-term borrowings 4 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -140000000 -140000 false false 2 false true -40000000 -40000 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Proceeds from long-term borrowings 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 347183000 347183 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Payment of credit facility renewal costs 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtRestructuringCosts us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -11237000 -11237 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Share repurchases 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -65469000 -65469 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Proceeds from exercise of stock options 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 20601000 20601 false false 2 false true 18279000 18279 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 37 Other, net 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -7064000 -7064 false false 2 false true -91000 -91 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 38 Net cash flows provided by financing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 20998000 20998 false false 2 false true 442049000 442049 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 39 Effect of Currency Exchange Rate Changes on Cash 3 us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 6483000 6483 false false 2 false true -5815000 -5815 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 40 Decrease in Cash and Equivalents 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -293976000 -293976 false false 2 false true -454344000 -454344 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 41 Cash and Equivalents at Beginning of Period 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 617694000 617694 false false 2 false true 901148000 901148 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 42 Cash and Equivalents at End of Period 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 323718000 323718 false false 2 false true 446804000 446804 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Cash paid during the period for: 4 mat_CashPaidDuringPeriodForAbstract mat false na duration string Cash paid for the period for [Abstract] false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false Cash paid for the period for [Abstract] false 45 Income taxes, gross 5 us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaid us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 90312000 90312 false false 2 false true 54655000 54655 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 46 Interest 5 us-gaap_InterestPaid us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 49204000 49204 false false 2 true true 45215000 45215 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 2 41 false Thousands UnKnown UnKnown false true