Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Intangible Assets, Net and Goodwill (Schedule of Identifiable Intangible Assets) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Intangible Assets, Net and Goodwill (Schedule of Identifiable Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Identifiable Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross carrying amount $ 37,198us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross $ 14,198us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Accumulated amortization (8,888)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization (5,331)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Net carrying amount 28,310us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 8,867us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Intangible assets not subject to amortization 115,421us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill 27,421us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Intangible assets, net 143,731us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill 36,288us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Patents And Purchased Technology [Member]    
Summary of Identifiable Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross carrying amount 14,198us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= colm_PatentsAndPurchasedTechnologyMember 		14,198us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= colm_PatentsAndPurchasedTechnologyMember
Accumulated amortization (6,661)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= colm_PatentsAndPurchasedTechnologyMember 		(5,331)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= colm_PatentsAndPurchasedTechnologyMember
Customer Relationships [Member]    
Summary of Identifiable Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Gross carrying amount 23,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember 		0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Accumulated amortization $ (2,227)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember 		$ 0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember