Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue:
Total revenue	$ 3,724.2	$ 3,138.2	$ 2,706.5
Cost of revenue:
Total cost of revenue	1,120.1	936.2	813.6
Gross profit	2,604.1	2,202.0	1,892.9
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	986.6	810.5	703.6
Research and development	418.1	328.6	239.6
Total operating expenses	1,404.7	1,139.1	943.2
Income from operations	1,199.4	1,062.9	949.7
Interest and other income, net	80.1	41.9	35.6
Income before taxes	1,279.5	1,104.8	985.3
Income tax expense	154.5	433.9	247.0
Net income	1,125.0	670.9	738.3
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture	(2.9)	(0.4)
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$ 1,127.9	$ 670.9	$ 738.3
Net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 9.92	$ 6.01	$ 6.43
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 9.49	$ 5.77	$ 6.26
Shares used in computing net income per share attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.:
Basic (shares)	113.7	111.7	114.9
Diluted (shares)	118.8	116.3	117.9
Total comprehensive income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	$ 1,130.1	$ 664.3	$ 738.9
Joint venture
Operating expenses:
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture	(2.9)	0.0	0.0
Product
Revenue:
Total revenue	3,089.1	2,565.3	2,195.8
Cost of revenue:
Total cost of revenue	906.2	756.3	662.6
Service
Revenue:
Total revenue	635.1	572.9	510.7
Cost of revenue:
Total cost of revenue	$ 213.9	$ 179.9	$ 151.0