Taxes (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]
Inventory	$ 27,164us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	$ 23,957us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventory
Accrued and other liabilities	84,521	74,755
Accrued post-retirement benefit and pension costs	68,709	48,296
Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards	45,806	43,939
Other	9,044us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther	12,832us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOther
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	235,244us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross	203,779us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGross
Valuation Allowance	(36,263)	(31,697)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	198,981us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet	172,082us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Inventory	3,918mtd_DeferredTaxLiabilityInventory	4,155mtd_DeferredTaxLiabilityInventory
Property, Plant and Equipment	47,547	51,763
Rainin Intangible Amortization	65,409	59,889
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Tax Deferred Expense, Compensation and Benefits, Pension	51,391	44,049
International earnings	13,506	10,838
Deferred Tax Liabilities	181,771us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities	170,694us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities
Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities), Net	$ 17,210us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	$ 1,388us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet

The sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amount of excesses of tax deductions over gross income in a year which cannot be used on the tax returns in the current year but can be carried forward to reduce taxable income or income taxes payable in a future year, for which there must be sufficient tax-basis income to utilize a portion or all of the carryforward amount to realize the deferred tax asset. Also includes the cumulative amount of future tax effects arising from the unused tax credit carryforward that cannot be utilized on the tax return during a year that may be carried forward to reduce taxable income or taxes payable in a future year; a tax credit carryforward is the amount by which tax credits available for utilization exceed statutory limitations.

No definition available.