CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 29, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales (Note 4)	$ 3,976		$ 3,778	$ 3,580
Cost of sales	3,227		3,094	2,928
Gross profit	749		684	652
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	808		547	517
Goodwill impairment	938		0	0
Operating (loss) income	(997)		137	135
Other income (expense):
Interest income	7		6	5
Interest expense	(56)		(3)	(2)
Other, net	17		3	1
Total (loss) income before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(1,029)		143	139
Income tax benefit (expense) (Note 14)	7		(37)	(48)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	0		1	1
Net (loss) income	(1,022)		107	92
Less: net loss (income) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests	3		(6)	(28)
Net (loss) income attributable to Covetrus	$ (1,019)	[1]	$ 101	$ 64
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Covetrus: (Note 15)
Basic (in usd per share)	$ (9.50)		$ 1.41	$ 0.90
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (9.50)		$ 1.40	$ 0.89
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	107		71	71
Diluted (in shares)	107		72	72

[1] Net income earned from January 1, 2019 through February 7, 2019 is attributed to the former parent as it was the sole shareholder prior to February 7, 2019