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Benefit Plans Benefit Plans (Detail 3) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]    
Plan amendments and prior service cost $ (24,195)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax  
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Net Prior Service Cost Credit, after Tax (18,436)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditAfterTax  
Actuarial losses (gains) 308,230us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Gains (Losses), after tax 224,481mtd_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetGainsLossesAfterTax  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax 284,035us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax 154,068us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax 206,045us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax  
United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]    
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]    
Plan amendments and prior service cost 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember		  
Actuarial losses (gains) 85,636us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember		  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax 85,636us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember		 59,013us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Foreign Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]    
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]    
Plan amendments and prior service cost (19,291)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		  
Actuarial losses (gains) 232,993us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax 213,702us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember		 110,965us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
United States Postretirement Benefit Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]    
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]    
Plan amendments and prior service cost (4,904)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember		  
Actuarial losses (gains) (10,399)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember		  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax $ (15,303)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember		 $ (15,910)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember