Certain charges to cost of revenues primarily for 1) the sale of inventories revalued at fair value at the date of acquisition and 2) accelerated depreciation at facilities closing due to facility consolidations.

Name:	tmo_CostOfRevenuesCharges
Namespace Prefix:	tmo
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ Details

Name:	tmo_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	tmo
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Includes 1) Income derived from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents the earnings of which reflect the time value of money or transactions in which the payments are for the use or forbearance of money. 2) Interest and debt related expenses associated with financing activities of the entity. 3) Net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities, gains or losses realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting, and losses recognized for other than temporary impairments of investments. 4) The entity's proportionate share for the period of the undistributed net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. 5) The net amount of other nonoperating income and expense for the period.

+ Details

Name:	tmo_OtherIncomeExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	tmo
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Restructuring and other costs consist principally of severance and retention costs; abandoned facility and other expenses of real estate consolidation; and, in some periods, may also include gains and losses on the sale of businesses, product lines and real estate; asset impairment charges; charges for in-process research and development associated with acquisitions prior to 2009; gains on pension plan curtailment; and gains and losses on litigation-related matters.

+ Details

Name:	tmo_RestructuringAndOtherCostsIncomeNet
Namespace Prefix:	tmo
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Certain charges/credits to selling, general and administrative expenses principally associated with acquisition accounting.

+ Details

Name:	tmo_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeChargesNet
Namespace Prefix:	tmo
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by (used in) operations using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 142
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph a(2)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ReconciliationOfOperatingProfitLossFromSegmentsToConsolidatedAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of income or loss for the reportable segment before unusual Items, equity method income or loss, income taxes, and extraordinary items.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27

+ Details

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