Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Deferred Stock Units [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 9,797	$ 641,645	$ 4,433	$ 965,540	$ 13,467	$ (1,060,647)	$ 574,235	$ 46	$ 574,281
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	97,968
Comprehensive Income:
Net income				161,786			161,786	(32)	161,754
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax					1,976		1,976		1,976
Comprehensive income							163,762	(32)	163,730
Repurchases of common stock						(259,729)	(259,729)		(259,729)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	1,261
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	126	45,747					45,873		45,873
Issuance of deferred stock units			91				91		91
Vesting of deferred stock units		(164)	164
Share-based compensation cost recognized		15,347					15,347		15,347
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	9,923	702,575	4,688	1,127,326	15,443	(1,320,376)	539,579	14	539,593
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	99,229
Comprehensive Income:
Net income				178,267			178,267	20	178,287
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax					511		511		511
Comprehensive income							178,778	20	178,798
Repurchases of common stock						(136,808)	(136,808)		(136,808)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	931
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	93	38,943	(365)				38,671		38,671
Issuance of deferred stock units			142				142		142
Vesting of deferred stock units		(165)	165
Share-based compensation cost recognized		15,861					15,861		15,861
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	10,016	757,214	4,630	1,305,593	15,954	(1,457,184)	636,223	34	636,257
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	100,160								100,160,000
Comprehensive Income:
Net income				187,800			187,800	(6)	187,794
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax					(2,332)		(2,332)		(2,332)
Comprehensive income							185,468	(6)	185,462
Repurchases of common stock						(372,194)	(372,194)		(372,194)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	1,028
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	103	51,861	(38)				51,926		51,926
Issuance of deferred stock units			189				189		189
Vesting of deferred stock units		(259)	259
Share-based compensation cost recognized		16,504	70				16,574		16,574
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 10,119	$ 825,320	$ 5,110	$ 1,493,393	$ 13,622	$ (1,829,378)	$ 518,186	$ 28	$ 518,214
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	101,188								101,188,000