Accrued Expenses - Constituents of Accrued Expenses (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Constituents of accrued expenses
Company bonuses	$ 9,294us-gaap_AccruedBonusesCurrent	$ 6,880us-gaap_AccruedBonusesCurrent
Salaries, commissions, and payroll taxes	5,802us-gaap_AccruedSalariesCurrent	6,111us-gaap_AccruedSalariesCurrent
Vacation	5,076us-gaap_AccruedVacationCurrent	4,598us-gaap_AccruedVacationCurrent
Warranty obligations	4,494	3,016
Foreign retirement obligations	3,626cgnx_RetirementAllowance	3,726cgnx_RetirementAllowance
Japanese consumption taxes	2,286cgnx_AccruedConsumptionTaxesCurrent	1,372cgnx_AccruedConsumptionTaxesCurrent
Other	9,371us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	8,628us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Accrued expenses	$ 39,949us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	$ 34,331us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for incentive compensation awarded to employees and directors or earned by them based on the terms of one or more relevant arrangements. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the obligations incurred through that date and payable for employees' services provided. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for estimated claims under standard and extended warranty protection rights granted to customers. For classified balance sheets, represents the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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