Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Jan. 26, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-30713
Entity Registrant Name	Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization	DE
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.	77-0416458
Entity Address, Address Line One	1020 Kifer Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Sunnyvale
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94086
City Area Code	(408)
Local Phone Number	523-2100
Title of Each Class	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	ISRG
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 108.7
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		357,744,031
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Part III incorporates information by reference to the definitive proxy statement for the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on or about April 28, 2022, to be filed within 120 days of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Entity Central Index Key	0001035267
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false