Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

Name:	tmo_FutureAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	tmo
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash to be paid to acquire the entity for an acquisition expected to be completed in a subsequent period.

+ Details

Name:	tmo_FutureBusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityEstimatedCashPayment
Namespace Prefix:	tmo
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total revenue reported by the acquired entity for its previous full fiscal year before the business acquisition.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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

Pending Acquisitions (Details)		12 Months Ended
Pending Acquisitions (Details)	May 19, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Phadia [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Phadia [Member] EUR (€)	May 19, 2011 Phadia [Member] USD ($)	May 19, 2011 Phadia [Member] Cash to Seller [Member] EUR (€)	May 19, 2011 Phadia [Member] Repayment of Acquiree Indebtedness [Member] EUR (€)
Future Acquisition [Line Items]
Total approximate purchase price				$ 3,510,000,000	€ 1,050,000,000	€ 1,410,000,000
Revenue Reported by Acquired Entity		525,000,000	367,000,000
Short-term Financing Arrangment, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 3,000,000,000