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

Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Effect and Classification of Derivative Instuments) (Details)

Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Effect and Classification of Derivative Instuments) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax	$ 9,462	$ 2,779	$ 753
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Cost of Sales [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to income for the effective portion	2,727	5,721	5,908
Gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to income as a result of cash flow hedge discontinuance	0	0	441
Loss recognized in income for amount excluded from effectiveness testing and for the ineffective portion	(353)	(71)	(40)
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Sales [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss recognized in income for amount excluded from effectiveness testing and for the ineffective portion	(27)	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) recognized in income	7,111	8,824	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) recognized in income	$ 0	$ 0	$ (1,841)