STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Schedule of Stockholders Equity (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)			357.7
Beginning balance	$ 12,156.9	$ 10,190.2	$ 11,951.5	$ 9,759.1
Issuance of common stock through employee stock plans	26.6	69.7	106.6	153.7
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards	(6.8)	(9.9)	(179.0)	(187.9)
Share-based compensation expense related to employee stock plans	126.7	108.1	247.5	211.3
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(500.1)		(606.6)
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	307.8	517.2	673.4	943.5
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(34.5)	(1.6)	(120.6)	(14.9)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture	$ 5.8	5.8	$ 9.6	14.7
Ending balance (in shares)	357.1		357.1
Ending balance	$ 12,082.4	10,879.5	$ 12,082.4	10,879.5
Total Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	12,102.3	10,153.5	11,901.1	9,731.5
Issuance of common stock through employee stock plans	26.6	69.7	106.6	153.7
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards	(6.8)	(9.9)	(179.0)	(187.9)
Share-based compensation expense related to employee stock plans	126.7	108.1	247.5	211.3
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(500.1)		(606.6)
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	307.8	517.2	673.4	943.5
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(33.5)	(1.1)	(120.0)	(14.6)
Ending balance	$ 12,023.0	$ 10,837.5	$ 12,023.0	$ 10,837.5
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)	358.9	355.2	357.7	353.1
Beginning balance	$ 0.4	$ 0.4	$ 0.4	$ 0.4
Issuance of common stock through employee stock plans (in shares)	0.4	1.0	2.6	3.8
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards (in shares)	0.0	0.0	(0.6)	(0.7)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)	(2.2)		(2.6)
Ending balance (in shares)	357.1	356.2	357.1	356.2
Ending balance	$ 0.4	$ 0.4	$ 0.4	$ 0.4
Additional Paid-In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	7,354.6	6,627.0	7,164.0	6,444.9
Issuance of common stock through employee stock plans	26.6	69.7	106.6	153.7
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards	(0.6)	(0.7)	(6.7)	(5.8)
Share-based compensation expense related to employee stock plans	126.7	108.1	247.5	211.3
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(23.3)		(27.4)
Ending balance	7,484.0	6,804.1	7,484.0	6,804.1
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	4,858.0	3,514.7	4,760.9	3,261.3
Shares withheld related to net share settlement of equity awards	(6.2)	(9.2)	(172.3)	(182.1)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(476.8)		(579.2)
Net income attributable to Intuitive Surgical, Inc.	307.8	517.2	673.4	943.5
Ending balance	4,682.8	4,022.7	4,682.8	4,022.7
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(110.7)	11.4	(24.2)	24.9
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(33.5)	(1.1)	(120.0)	(14.6)
Ending balance	(144.2)	10.3	(144.2)	10.3
Noncontrolling Interest in Joint Venture
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	54.6	36.7	50.4	27.6
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1.0)	(0.5)	(0.6)	(0.3)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint venture	5.8	5.8	9.6	14.7
Ending balance	$ 59.4	$ 42.0	$ 59.4	$ 42.0