Other Charges (Income), Net	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
OTHER CHARGES (INCOME), NET	OTHER CHARGES (INCOME), NETOther charges (income), net includes non-service pension costs (benefits), (gains) losses from foreign currency transactions and related hedging activities, interest income and other items. Non-service pension benefits for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were $2.5 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also know as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

No definition available.

Name:	mtd_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpenseTextBlock
Namespace Prefix:	mtd_
Data Type:	dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration