Payments to acquire interest in variable interest entity, Interest included in payment

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	tmo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Variable Interest Entity, Acquisition Price, Outstanding Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tmo_VariableInterestEntityAcquisitionPriceOutstandingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	tmo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (bb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28200181&loc=d3e5710-111685

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssetsAndLiabilitiesAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Additional Financial Information (Variable Interest Entities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Consolidated assets of variable interest entity				$ 236
Acquisition price of interest in variable interest entity			94
Payments to acquire interest in variable interest entity	54	40
Payments to acquire interest in variable interest entity, Interest included in payment	$ 14