Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Business Acquisition (Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets and Liabilities Assumed) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Business Acquisition (Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets and Liabilities Assumed) (Details) (USD $)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
May 30, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Goodwill $ 68,594,000us-gaap_Goodwill $ 14,438,000us-gaap_Goodwill  
prAna Living LLC [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Cash 4,946,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
  4,946,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
Accounts receivable 10,021,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquiredReceivablesFairValue
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Inventories 9,641,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Other current assets 2,531,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsPrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Property, plant and equipment 5,192,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Acquired intangible assets 114,500,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Other non-current assets 258,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Total assets acquired 147,089,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Accounts payable 2,803,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesAccountsPayable
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Other current liabilities 5,029,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilitiesOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Total liabilities assumed 7,832,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Net identifiable assets acquired 139,257,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Goodwill 54,156,000us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember
   
Net assets acquired $ 193,413,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= colm_PrAnaLivingLLCMember