Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant	5,800,000
Stock-based compensation related to the retirement of senior executives	$ 54,127	$ 44,709	$ 36,868
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Maximum contribution allowed under employee stock purchase plan as % of employee's earnings	15.00%
Total number of shares purchased under employee stock purchase plan	800,000
Plan period employee stock purchase plan, in months	3 months
Purchase price calculation for shares of stock under employee stock purchase plan	The purchase price for each share of stock is the lesser of 90% of the market price on the first day of the plan period or 100% of the market price on the last day of the plan period.
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Total intrinsic value of options exercised in the period	$ 9,000	14,000	11,000
Proceeds from stock plans	10,000	$ 21,000	$ 18,000
Intrinsic value of options outstanding	$ 48,000
Weighted-average remaining contractual term of options exercisable	5 years 2 months 12 days
Intrinsic value of options exercisable	$ 35,000
Number of options exercisable	324,000	300,000	300,000
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options	$ 271.74	$ 251.63	$ 223.37
Options Vested and Expected to Vest [Abstract]
Number of options outstanding which are vested and expected to vest	600,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options which are vested and expect to vest	$ 47,000
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options which are vested and expected to vest	$ 302.88
Weighted-average remaining contractual term of outstanding options which are vested and expected to vest	6 years 3 months 18 days
Unrecognized compensation costs on unvested options	$ 24,000
Employee Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation costs	1,000	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Restricted Stock Unit Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation costs	$ 27,000	$ 22,000	19,000
Options Vested and Expected to Vest [Abstract]
Weighted-average period of recognition for unrecognized compensation costs on nonvested awards	3 years 3 months 18 days
Unvested Awards Roll Forward
Shares granted	111,000
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted	$ 377.02
Unvested shares at end of period	270,000	261,000
Unrecognized compensation costs on unvested awards	$ 66,000
Performance Stock Unit Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation costs	$ 13,000	$ 9,000	$ 5,000
Options Vested and Expected to Vest [Abstract]
Weighted-average period of recognition for unrecognized compensation costs on nonvested awards	1 year 10 months 24 days
Unvested Awards Roll Forward
Shares granted	48,000	43,000	45,000
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted	$ 425.93
Unvested shares at end of period	122,000	110,000
Unrecognized compensation costs on unvested awards	$ 20,000
Performance Stock Unit Plan [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights	0.00%
Performance Stock Unit Plan [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting rights	200.00%
Restricted Stock Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation costs	$ 1,000	$ 1,000	$ 1,000
Unvested Awards Roll Forward
Shares granted	3	3	3
Weighted-average grant date fair value of shares granted	$ 368.26	$ 329	$ 341.04
Unvested shares at end of period	3,000
Equity Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	5 years
Award expiration period	10 years
Options Vested and Expected to Vest [Abstract]
Weighted-average period of recognition for unrecognized compensation costs on nonvested awards	3 years
Employee Stock Purchase Plan of 2009 [Member] \| Employee Stock [Member]
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Abstract]
Total number of shares purchased under employee stock purchase plan	800,000
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation related to the retirement of senior executives	$ 13,000	$ 11,000	$ 10,000

WATERS CORP /DE/ 10-K