Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	METTLER TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC/
Entity Central Index Key	0001037646
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	25,821,995
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float		$ 9,666,588,481