1001 - Document - Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1002 - Statement - Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1003 - Statement - Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1004 - Disclosure - Description of Plan link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1005 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1006 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1007 - Disclosure - Related-Party Transactions link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1008 - Disclosure - Plan Amendment and Termination link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1009 - Disclosure - Tax Status link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1010 - Disclosure - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1011 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1012 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Tables) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1013 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Detail) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1014 - Disclosure - Description of Plan - Additional information (Details) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1015 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional information (Details) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1016 - Disclosure - Related-Party Transactions - Additional information (Details) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1017 - Disclosure - Plan Amendment and Termination - Additional information (Details) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1018 - Disclosure - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) (Detail) link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 1019 - Disclosure - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) (Detail) Alternate link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink Cover [Abstract] Document Information [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] EBP 002 [Member] Document Information [Line Items] Document Type Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Abstract] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Asset [Abstract] Assets EBP, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Fair Value Investments, at fair value EBP, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Fair Value EBP, Note Receivable from Participant Notes receivable from participants EBP, Employer Contribution, Receivable Employer contributions receivable EBP, Net Asset Available for Benefit Net assets available for benefits Beginning of year End of year EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Abstract] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Income (Loss) on Investment [Abstract] Net investment income: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Gain (Loss) on Investment Net appreciation in fair value of investments EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest Income on Investment Interest income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Dividend Income on Investment Dividend income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Income (Loss) on Investment Total investment income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest Income on Note Receivable from Participant Interest income on notes receivable from participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Contribution [Abstract] Contributions: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Employer Contribution, Cash and Noncash Employer's contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Participant Contribution, Excluding Rollover Participants' contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Participant Contribution, Rollover Rollovers EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Contribution Total contributions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Shares Allocated for ESOP Other income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase Total additions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease [Abstract] Deductions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Payment to Participant Benefits paid directly to beneficiaries and participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Administrative Expense Administrative expenses EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Administrative Expense EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease Total deductions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) Net increase EBP, Description of Plan and Accounting Change [Abstract] EBP, Description of Plan [Table] EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items] EBP, Description of Plan [Text Block] Description of Plan EBP, Accounting Policy, Accounting Standard Update, and Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract] EBP, Accounting Policy [Table] EBP, Accounting Policy [Line Items] EBP, Summary of Accounting Policy [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Abstract] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Line Items] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Abstract] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Table] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Line Items] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Text Block] Related-Party Transactions Employee Benefit Plan Plan Amendment And Termination [Abstract] Employee Benefit Plan Plan Amendment And Termination [Table] Employee Benefit Plan Plan Amendment And Termination [Line Items] Employee Benefit Plan Plan Amendment And Termination [Text Block] Plan Amendment and Termination Employee benefit plan plan amendment and termination. EBP, Tax Status [Abstract] EBP, Tax Status [Table] EBP, Tax Status [Line Items] EBP, Tax Status [Text Block] Tax Status EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Abstract] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Table] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Line Items] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Table Text Block] Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) EBP, Basis of Accounting [Policy Text Block] Basis of Accounting EBP, Investment [Policy Text Block] Investment Transactions and Investment Income EBP, Contribution [Policy Text Block] Contributions EBP, Payment to Participant [Policy Text Block] Benefit Payments EBP, Note Receivable from Participant [Policy Text Block] Notes Receivable from Participants EBP, Use of Estimate [Policy Text Block] Use of Estimates EBP, Risk and Uncertainty [Policy Text Block] Risks and Uncertainties EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table Text Block] Schedule of Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Investment Type [Axis] Investments [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Waters Corporation Common Stock Interest-Bearing Deposits [Member] Interest-bearing cash Mutual Fund [Member] Mutual funds EBP, Self-Directed Brokerage Account [Member] Self-directed brokerage assets Common Collective Trust [Member] Common collective trusts Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] EBP Automatic Participation Will Commence To Total Compensation Percentage EBP, Automatic Participation Will Commence To Total Compensation Percentage EBP automatic participation will commence to total compensation percentage. EBP Automatic Participation Annual Eligible Compensation To Total Compensation Percentage EBP, Automatic Participation Annual Eligible Compensation To Total Compensation Percentage Ebp automatic participation annual eligible compensation to total compensation percentage. EBP Automatic Participation Annual Eligible Compensation Reach To Total Compensation Percentage EBP, Automatic Participation Annual Eligible Compensation Reach To Total Compensation Percentage Ebp automatic participation annual eligible compensation reach to total compensation percentage. EBP Voluntary Contribution To The Plan Through Deduction Percentage EBP, Voluntary Contribution To The Plan Through Deduction Percentage Ebp voluntary contribution to the plan through deduction percentage. EBP, Employer Contribution, Participant Compensation Matched, Percentage EBP, Employer contribution, participant compensation matched, percentage EBP, Employer Contribution, Matching Percentage EBP, Employer Contribution, Matching Percentage EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Maximum Borrowing, Amount EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Maximum Borrowing, Amount EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Minimum Borrowing, Amount EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Minimum Borrowing, Amount Employee Benefit Plan Account Balance Minus Current Outstanding Loan Balance Percentage Employee Benefit Plan Account Balance Minus Current Outstanding Loan Balance Percentage Employee benefit plan account balance minus current outstanding loan balance percentage. Employee Benefit Plan Outstanding Loan Percentage Employee Benefit Plan Outstanding Loan Percentage Employee benefit plan outstanding loan percentage. Statistical Measurement [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Domain] Maximum [Member] Minimum [Member] EBP, Net Asset Value per Share or Unit EBP, Net Asset Value per Share or Unit EBP, Employer, Common Stock [Member] EBP, Investment Acquired, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Cost EBP, Investment Acquired, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Cost EBP, Investment Sold, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Selling Price EBP, Investment Sold, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Selling Price Employee Benefit Plan Net Investment Appreciation Employee Benefit Plan Net Investment Appreciation Employee benefit plan net investment appreciation. Employee Benefit Plan Administrative Expenses Employee Benefit Plan Administrative Expenses Employee benefit plan administrative expenses. EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest and Dividend Income on Investment EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest and Dividend Income on Investment Employee Benefit Plan Common Stock And Related Interest Bearing Cash Employee Benefit Plan Common Stock And Related Interest Bearing Cash Employee benefit plan common stock and related interest bearing cash. Employee Benefit Plan Revenue Sharing Payments Employee Benefit Plan Revenue Sharing Payments Employee benefit plan revenue sharing payments. Employee Benefit Plan Plan Termination Remain Vested Percentage Employee Benefit Plan Plan Termination Remain Vested Percentage Employee benefit plan plan termination remain vested percentage. EBP, Investment, Issuer Name [Extensible Enumeration] EBP, Investment, Current Value, Type [Extensible Enumeration] EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Participation Status [Extensible Enumeration] EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Plan Interest in Master Trust, Current Value Entity Tax Identification Number EBP, Plan Number EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Party-in-Interest [true false] EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, Interest Rate EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, after Deemed Distribution Investment, Identifier [Axis] Investment, Issuer Name [Axis] Investment, Issuer Name [Domain] Waters Corporation Stock Fund [Member] EBP, Participant-Directed and Nonparticipant-Directed Status [Axis] EBP, Participant-Directed and Nonparticipant-Directed Status [Domain] Allspring Special Mid Cap Value Fund – Class R6 [Member] American Century U.S. Small Cap Value Equity Fund [Member] American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund - Class R6 [Member] Fidelity Diversified International Commingled Pool [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2010 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2015 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2020 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2025 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2030 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2035 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2040 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2045 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2050 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2055 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2060 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend 2065 Fund - Class R [Member] Fidelity Freedom Blend Retirement Fund [Member] Fidelity Growth Company Commingled Pool [Member] Fidelity Institutional Asset Management U.S. Bond Index Commingled Pool - Class D [Member] Fidelity Investments Money Market Government Portfolio - Institutional Class [Member] Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio Class II [Member] Interest-Bearing Cash [Member] MassMutual Mid Cap Growth Fund – Class I [Member] Self-Directed BrokerageLink [Member] Spartan 500 Index Pool - Class D [Member] Spartan Extended Market Index Pool - Class D [Member] Spartan Total International Index Pool - Class D [Member] Waters Corporation Common Stock [Member] EBP, Participant-Directed [Member]