The period in which issuance costs are amortized in the income statement through interest expense.

No definition available.

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- Definition

A ratio used to determine how easily a company can pay interest on outstanding debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Ratio used to calculate the financial leverage of a company or to measure its ability to meet financial obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The minimum percent of the original aggregate principal amount the Company must pay if at any time it choose to prepay the Senior Notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

If the company chooses to prepay the senior notes, the price equal to the percent of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, plus a "make-whole" prepayment premium.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

In the event of a change in control of the Company (as definted in the Agreement), the Company may be required to prepay the Senior Notes in whole at a price equal to the percent of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

States whether the entity was in compliance with the debt covenants throughout the reporting period, and describes facts and circumstances of any compliance failure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest capitalized during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Allowance for Funds Used during Construction

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6504829

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow paid to third parties in connection with debt origination, which will be amortized over the remaining maturity period of the associated long-term debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Debt Textuals (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Debt Textuals (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument
Senior Notes	$ 250,000,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
Minimum Prepayment Percent	10.00%mtd_MinimumPrepaymentPercent
Percent of Price of Repayment	100.00%mtd_PercentOfPriceOfRepayment
Percent of Principal Balance Paid due to Change in Control of Company	100.00%
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio Covenant	3.5 to 1.0
Consolidated Leverage Ratio Covenant	3.5 to 1.0
Debt issuance costs	941,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1,522,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	363,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.00%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
6.3% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument
Senior Notes, Stated Interest Rate	6.30%
Senior Notes	100,000,000	100,000,000
Maturity Date	Jun. 25, 2015
Debt issuance costs	700,000
Amortized Issuance Costs Period	six
3.67% Percent Notes
Debt Instrument
Senior Notes, Stated Interest Rate	3.67%
Senior Notes	50,000,000	50,000,000
Maturity Date	Dec. 17, 2022
Debt issuance costs	400,000
Amortized Issuance Costs Period	ten
4.10% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument
Senior Notes, Stated Interest Rate	4.10%
Senior Notes	50,000,000	50,000,000
Maturity Date	Sep. 19, 2023
Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance	The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.
Debt issuance costs	400,000
Amortized Issuance Costs Period	ten
3.84% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument
Senior Notes, Stated Interest Rate	3.84%
Senior Notes	125,000,000	0
Maturity Date	Sep. 19, 2024
Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance	The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2014.
Debt issuance costs	900,000
Amortized Issuance Costs Period	ten
4.24% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument
Senior Notes, Stated Interest Rate	4.24%
Senior Notes	125,000,000
$800 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument
Maturity Date	Nov. 26, 2018
Debt Instrument, Covenant Compliance	the Company was in compliance as of December 31, 2014
Amortized Issuance Costs Period	2018
Credit Agreement Borrowing Capacity	800,000,000
$800 million Credit Agreement, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.75%
Interest Costs, Capitalized During Period	1,100,000
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	684,800,000
$880 Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument
Credit Agreement Borrowing Capacity	880,000,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	$ (400,000)