Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue:
Product revenue	$ 816,992	$ 782,654	$ 718,107
Service revenue	476,346	436,035	385,285
Total revenue	1,293,338	1,218,689	1,103,392
Cost of Revenue:
Cost of product revenue	305,910	309,795	285,936
Cost of service revenue	288,280	262,388	238,833
Total cost of revenue	594,190	572,183	524,769
Gross profit	699,148	646,506	578,623
Expenses:
Sales and marketing	216,962	204,850	179,626
General and administrative	137,609	129,389	126,519
Research and development	82,014	76,042	68,597
Income from operations	262,563	236,225	203,881
Interest expense	(3,848)	(3,547)	(2,415)
Interest income	1,902	1,744	663
Income before provision for income taxes	260,617	234,422	202,129
Provision for income taxes	82,330	72,668	60,809
Net income	178,287	161,754	141,320
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	20	(32)	36
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	$ 178,267	$ 161,786	$ 141,284
Earnings per Share:
Basic	$ 3.24	$ 2.85	$ 2.45
Diluted	$ 3.17	$ 2.78	$ 2.37
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic	54,985	56,790	57,713
Diluted	56,155	58,214	59,559