Columbia Sportswear Company Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Retirement Savings Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Retirement Savings Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Liability to participants under deferred compensation plan	$ 6,039,000	$ 4,855,000
Current liability to participants under deferred compensation plan	485,000	336,000
401(k) Profit-Sharing Plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Company contributions to the plan	7,056,000	5,200,000	4,966,000
Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Company contributions to the plan	239,000	483,000	259,000
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] \| Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of mutual fund investments	6,039,000	4,855,000
Short-term Investments [Member] \| Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Fair value of mutual fund investments	$ 485,000	$ 336,000