Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Oct. 02, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by PerkinElmer, Inc. (the “Company”), without audit, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (the “U.S.”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information in the footnote disclosures of the financial statements has been condensed or omitted where it substantially duplicates information provided in the Company’s latest audited consolidated financial statements, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2011, filed with the SEC (the “2010 Form 10-K”). The balance sheet amounts at January 2, 2011 in this report were derived from the Company’s audited 2010 consolidated financial statements included in the 2010 Form 10-K. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2011 and October 3, 2010, respectively, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year or any future period. The Company has evaluated subsequent events from October 2, 2011 through the date of the issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements and has determined that no material subsequent events have occurred that would affect the information presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements or would require additional disclosure. Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued authoritative guidance on multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. This guidance establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements including multiple revenue-generating activities. This guidance provides amendments to the criteria for separating and measuring deliverables and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. The amendments in this guidance also establish a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. The amendments also require a company to provide information about the significant judgments made and changes to those judgments and about the way the application of the relative selling-price method affects the timing or amount of revenue recognition. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance on multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. In October 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. This guidance changes the accounting model for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements that are “essential to the functionality” of the product. Products for which software elements are not essential to the functionality of the product are excluded from current software revenue guidance. The guidance includes factors to help companies determine what software elements are considered “essential to the functionality” of the product. The amendments subject software-enabled products to other revenue guidance and disclosure requirements, such as guidance surrounding revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance on revenue arrangements that include software elements in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. In March 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on the milestone method of revenue recognition. This guidance will allow the milestone method as an acceptable revenue recognition methodology when an arrangement includes substantive milestones. This guidance provides a definition of a substantive milestone that should be applied regardless of whether the arrangement includes single or multiple deliverables or units of accounting. The scope of the applicability of this definition is limited to transactions involving milestones relating to research and development deliverables. This guidance also includes enhanced disclosure requirements about each arrangement, individual milestones and related contingent consideration, information about substantive milestones and factors considered in the determination of whether this methodology is appropriate. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance on the milestone method of revenue recognition on a prospective basis in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB and are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective dates. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes that such recently issued pronouncements will not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows or do not apply to the Company’s operations.

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by PerkinElmer, Inc. (the “Company”), without audit, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (the “U.S.”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information in the footnote disclosures of the financial statements has been condensed or omitted where it substantially duplicates information provided in the Company’s latest audited consolidated financial statements, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2011, filed with the SEC (the “2010 Form 10-K”). The balance sheet amounts at January 2, 2011 in this report were derived from the Company’s audited 2010 consolidated financial statements included in the 2010 Form 10-K. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2011 and October 3, 2010, respectively, are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year or any future period. The Company has evaluated subsequent events from October 2, 2011 through the date of the issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements and has determined that no material subsequent events have occurred that would affect the information presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements or would require additional disclosure. Certain reclassifications were made to prior year amounts to conform to the current period presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued authoritative guidance on multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. This guidance establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements including multiple revenue-generating activities. This guidance provides amendments to the criteria for separating and measuring deliverables and allocating arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. The amendments in this guidance also establish a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. The amendments also require a company to provide information about the significant judgments made and changes to those judgments and about the way the application of the relative selling-price method affects the timing or amount of revenue recognition. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance on multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. This guidance changes the accounting model for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements that are “essential to the functionality” of the product. Products for which software elements are not essential to the functionality of the product are excluded from current software revenue guidance. The guidance includes factors to help companies determine what software elements are considered “essential to the functionality” of the product. The amendments subject software-enabled products to other revenue guidance and disclosure requirements, such as guidance surrounding revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance on revenue arrangements that include software elements in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance on the milestone method of revenue recognition. This guidance will allow the milestone method as an acceptable revenue recognition methodology when an arrangement includes substantive milestones. This guidance provides a definition of a substantive milestone that should be applied regardless of whether the arrangement includes single or multiple deliverables or units of accounting. The scope of the applicability of this definition is limited to transactions involving milestones relating to research and development deliverables. This guidance also includes enhanced disclosure requirements about each arrangement, individual milestones and related contingent consideration, information about substantive milestones and factors considered in the determination of whether this methodology is appropriate. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance on the milestone method of revenue recognition on a prospective basis in the first quarter of fiscal year 2011. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB and are adopted by the Company as of the specified effective dates. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes that such recently issued pronouncements will not have a significant impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows or do not apply to the Company’s operations.