Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 22, 2025	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Feb. 06, 2026	Jan. 01, 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face value of debt	$ 200,000
Debt covenant description			These senior unsecured notes require that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. In addition, these senior unsecured notes include customary negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default.
Long-term debt			$ 947,445	$ 1,626,488
Call feature on debt instrument			The Company may prepay all or some of the senior unsecured notes at any time in an amount not less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding. In the event of a change in control of the Company (as defined in the note purchase agreement), the Company may be required to prepay the senior unsecured notes at a price equal
Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity			$ 110,000	111,000
Long term debt gross			1,400,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment		$ 500,000
Debt instrument, fee amount						$ 3,500,000
Payments of Financing Costs			16,000
Financing Cost Incurred On Bridge Facility			5,000
Bridge Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity			0
Financing Commitment To Fund Dividend Fees And Expenses			1,800,000
Threshold amount for material acquisition	500,000
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Amount	2,550,000
Debt instrument, increase (decrease), net			220,000	730,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Amount	50,000
Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused borrowing capacity			1,800,000
Long term debt gross			150,000	370,000
Notes Payable to Banks [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused borrowing capacity			1,600,000	1,600,000
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 1,300,000	$ 1,300,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest coverage ratio			1.00%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument interest coverage ratio			3.50%
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| SpinCo [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, fee amount					$ 4,000,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| SpinCo [Member] \| Tranche B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt gross					500,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member] \| SpinCo [Member] \| Tranche A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt gross					$ 3,500,000
Credit Agreements and Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate			3.35%	3.72%
Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt gross			$ 1,300,000
2021 Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long term debt gross			$ 100,000	$ 400,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit maximum borrowing capacity	$ 1,800,000
Debt instrument maturity date	May 22, 2030
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Amount	$ 750,000

WATERS CORP /DE/ 10-K