Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 42,873	$ 38,496	$ 134,927	$ 123,756
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	9,221	(12,780)	4,548	799
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $33 and $66 in 2012 and ($145) and ($119) in 2011	56	(246)	111	(201)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments:
Unrealized (loss) gain, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($1,294) and ($1,235) in 2012 and $1,781 and $188 in 2011	(2,684)	4,075	(2,329)	541
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($395) and ($1,434) in 2012 and $565 and $1,930 in 2011	(872)	1,192	(3,194)	4,103
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(3,556)	5,267	(5,523)	4,644
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,721	(7,759)	(864)	5,242
Comprehensive income	48,594	30,737	134,063	128,998
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	20	(11)	14	(20)
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 48,574	$ 30,748	$ 134,049	$ 129,018