CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,102	$ 1,065
Cost of sales	892	863
Gross profit	210	202
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	213	222
Operating income (loss)	(3)	(20)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	0	0
Interest expense	(9)	(14)
Other, net	0	(1)
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(12)	(35)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(4)	2
Net income (loss)	(16)	(33)
Net (income) loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Covetrus	$ (16)	$ (33)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Covetrus:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.30)
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.30)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	136	112
Diluted (in shares)	136	112