Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 9,736,909	$ 8,584,031	$ 7,192,633
Cost of goods sold	5,937,286	5,232,328	4,359,104
Gross margin	3,799,623	3,351,703	2,833,529
Facility and warehouse expenses	797,388	688,918	556,041
Distribution expenses	784,485	683,812	602,897
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,131,214	986,380	828,333
Restructuring and acquisition related expenses	19,672	37,762	19,511
Depreciation and amortization	219,546	191,433	122,120
Operating income	847,318	763,398	704,627
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	101,640	88,263	57,860
Loss on debt extinguishment	456	26,650	0
Gain on foreign exchange contracts - acquisition related	0	(18,342)	0
Gains on bargain purchases	(3,870)	(8,207)	0
Interest and other income, net	(17,535)	(2,247)	(2,263)
Total other expense, net	80,691	86,117	55,597
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	766,627	677,281	649,030
Provision for income taxes	235,560	220,566	219,703
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries	5,907	(592)	(6,104)
Income from continuing operations	536,974	456,123	423,223
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(6,746)	7,852	0
Net income	530,228	463,975	423,223
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,516)	0	0
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ 533,744	$ 463,975	$ 423,223
Basic earnings per share: (1)
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.74	$ 1.49	$ 1.39
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(0.02)	0.03	0.00
Net income	1.72	1.51	1.39
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.01)	0.00	0.00
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	1.73	1.51	1.39
Diluted earnings per share: (1)
Income from continuing operations	1.73	1.47	1.38
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(0.02)	0.03	0.00
Net income	1.71	1.50	1.38
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.01)	0.00	0.00
Net income attributable to LKQ stockholders	$ 1.72	$ 1.50	$ 1.38