Acquisitions.

Name:	mtd_AcquisitionsTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mtd
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, as allocated between operating segments.

+ Details

Name:	mtd_BusinessAcquisitionAllocationOfGoodwillAcquiredAmongstSegments
Namespace Prefix:	mtd
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to identifiable intangible assets that will or will not be amortized based on the type of intangible (finite life or indefinite life). Does not include goodwill.

+ Details

Name:	mtd_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	mtd
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The calculated weighted-average amortization period of a major class of finite-lived intangible assets acquired during the current period either individually or as part of a group of assets (in either an asset acquisition or business combination). A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 44

-Subparagraph a(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of potential cash payments that could result from the contingent consideration arrangement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPayment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 52

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 53

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash outflow representing an adjustment to the purchase price of a previous acquisition.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForPreviousAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Aug. 01, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2010
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price			$ 19,400,000	$ 15,400,000	$ 12,500,000
Business Acquisition, Contingent Consideration, Potential Cash Payment			2,400,000
Goodwill			10,900,000	4,400,000	7,400,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Intangible Assets			13,300,000	9,900,000	4,500,000
Payments for Previous Acquisition	7,750,000	0
U.S. Operations Segment [Member]
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill				1,900,000
Swiss Operations Segment [Member]
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Goodwill				2,500,000
Portion of Current Year $15.4MM Price Related to X-ray Inspection Solution Business Acquisition [Member]
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price				$ 12,000,000
Tradename (finite life) [Member]
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Weighted Average Useful Life	15	7
Technology [Member]
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Weighted Average Useful Life	9
Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquisitions (Textuals) [Abstract]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Weighted Average Useful Life	18	30