v3.26.1
Business Segment Information - Summary of Geographic Revenues Information (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jul. 04, 2026
Jun. 28, 2025
Jul. 04, 2026
Jun. 28, 2025
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues $ 1,645 $ 771 $ 2,912 $ 1,433
Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 1,645 771 2,912 1,433
Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 756 709 1,442 1,318
Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 368 0 600 0
Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 521 62 870 115
China [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 206 117 359 208
China [Member] | Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 118 107 218 188
China [Member] | Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 48 0 75 0
China [Member] | Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 40 10 66 20
Asia Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 244 149 441 279
Asia Other [Member] | Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 156 145 289 270
Asia Other [Member] | Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 33 0 57 0
Asia Other [Member] | Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 55 4 95 9
Total Asia [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 450 266 800 487
Total Asia [Member] | Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 274 252 507 458
Total Asia [Member] | Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 81 0 132 0
Total Asia [Member] | Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 95 14 161 29
United States [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 570 229 985 445
United States [Member] | Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 226 210 430 410
United States [Member] | Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 149 0 239 0
United States [Member] | Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 195 19 316 35
Americas Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 120 51 210 91
Americas Other [Member] | Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 47 45 89 82
Americas Other [Member] | Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 26 0 44 0
Americas Other [Member] | Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 47 6 77 9
Total Americas [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 690 280 1,195 536
Total Americas [Member] | Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 273 255 519 492
Total Americas [Member] | Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 175 0 283 0
Total Americas [Member] | Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 242 25 393 44
Europe [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 505 225 917 410
Europe [Member] | Waters Analytical & Material Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 209 202 416 368
Europe [Member] | Waters Biosciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues 112 0 185 0
Europe [Member] | Waters Advanced Diagnostics [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total revenues $ 184 $ 23 $ 316 $ 42