CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Service revenues	$ 1,167,064	$ 1,074,366	$ 2,275,086	$ 2,104,340
Reimbursed expenses	385,609	369,161	767,672	686,780
Total revenues	1,552,673	1,443,527	3,042,758	2,791,120
Costs of revenue, service costs	740,639	683,845	1,441,205	1,345,672
Costs of revenue, reimbursed expenses	385,609	369,161	767,672	686,780
Selling, general and administrative	250,568	225,898	476,084	445,504
Restructuring costs	25,114	6,234	28,258	11,558
Income from operations	150,743	158,389	329,539	301,606
Interest income	(834)	(1,459)	(1,464)	(2,329)
Interest expense	22,483	25,487	48,442	50,827
Loss on extinguishment of debt		7,780		7,780
Other (income) expense, net	(2,803)	11,659	1,703	8,798
Income before income taxes and equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	131,897	114,922	280,858	236,530
Income tax expense	36,810	31,700	79,387	67,788
Income before equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	95,087	83,222	201,471	168,742
Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,789)	1,725	(1,147)	2,636
Net income	91,298	84,947	200,324	171,378
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(4,539)	4	(6,897)	(29)
Net income attributable to Quintiles Transnational Holdings Inc.	$ 86,759	$ 84,951	$ 193,427	$ 171,349
Earnings per share attributable to common shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.73	$ 0.69	$ 1.62	$ 1.38
Diluted	$ 0.71	$ 0.67	$ 1.59	$ 1.35
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	119,464	123,834	119,456	124,169
Diluted	121,519	126,536	121,479	126,995