Segment Reporting (Summary Of Segment Performance) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 354,073	$ 338,297	$ 352,583	$ 332,106	$ 319,538	$ 315,475	$ 335,649	$ 322,676	$ 1,377,058		$ 1,293,338		$ 1,218,689
Income (loss) from operations	61,328	65,485	78,763	61,188	63,427	62,912	75,817	60,407	266,762		262,563		236,225
Interest expense, net									(3,501)		(1,946)		(1,803)
Income before provision for income taxes									263,261		260,617		234,422
Provision for income taxes									75,467		82,330		72,668
Net income									187,794		178,287		161,754
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest									(6)		20		(32)
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	43,258	45,688	53,995	44,860	43,354	42,853	51,317	40,743	187,800		178,267		161,786
Depreciation and amortization									54,596		52,408		48,202
Expenditures for long-lived assets									77,612	[1]	57,618	[1]	49,677	[1]
CAG Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									1,150,169		1,072,211		999,722
Income (loss) from operations									218,645		203,236		189,834
Depreciation and amortization									45,079		43,042		39,293
Expenditures for long-lived assets									66,134	[1]	47,531	[1]	39,912	[1]
Water Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									87,959		84,680		82,125
Income (loss) from operations									37,321		37,687		33,844
Depreciation and amortization									2,470		2,358		1,929
Expenditures for long-lived assets									3,254	[1]	2,099	[1]	2,298	[1]
LPD Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									113,811		111,308		113,589
Income (loss) from operations									14,159		20,808		22,344
Depreciation and amortization									4,906		4,943		4,876
Expenditures for long-lived assets									5,569	[1]	5,767	[1]	6,009	[1]
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									25,119		25,139		23,253
Income (loss) from operations									2,405		2,902		3,951
Depreciation and amortization									2,141		2,065		2,104
Expenditures for long-lived assets									2,655	[1]	2,221	[1]	1,458	[1]
Unallocated Amounts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations									$ (5,768)		$ (2,070)		$ (13,748)

[1] __________(1) Expenditures for long-lived assets exclude expenditures for intangible assets. See Note 3 for information regarding acquisitions of intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.