Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]      
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]      
Balance at Beginning of Period $ 8,282us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		$ 7,377us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		$ 7,545us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Charged to Costs and Expenses 2,299us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		2,609us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		981us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Deductions (1,344)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1] (1,687)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1] (1,173)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[1]
Other (294)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[2] (17)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[2] 24us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		[2]
Balance at End of Period 8,943us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		8,282us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember 		7,377us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Allowance For Sales Returns And Miscellaneous Claims [Member]      
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]      
Balance at Beginning of Period 25,125us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		32,547us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		28,201us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember
Charged to Costs and Expenses 47,187us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		42,327us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		63,453us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember
Deductions (43,322)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		[1] (48,473)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		[1] (58,353)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		[1]
Other (1,611)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		[2] (1,276)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		[2] (754)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		[2]
Balance at End of Period $ 27,379us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		$ 25,125us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember 		$ 32,547us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
/ us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis
= colm_AllowanceForSalesReturnsAndMiscellaneousClaimsMember
[1] Charges to the accounts included in this column are for the purposes for which the reserves were created.
[2] Amounts included in this column primarily relate to foreign currency translation.