Document and Entity Information (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 27, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	WATERS CORP /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0001000697
Document Type	10-Q
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float	$ 6,966,563,351
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		87,678,039