Segment Reporting (Summary Of Segment Performance) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 360,203	$ 332,106
Income (loss) from operations	70,046	61,188
Interest expense, net	(2,303)	(391)
Income before provision for income taxes	67,743	60,797
Provision for income taxes	21,150	15,930
Net income	46,593	44,867
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	8	7
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	46,585	44,860
Depreciation and amortization	13,394	13,513
Expenditures for long-lived assets	11,298	20,132
CAG Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	301,588	276,941
Income (loss) from operations	55,864	51,309
Water Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	21,421	20,666
Income (loss) from operations	8,116	8,355
LPD Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	31,351	28,039
Income (loss) from operations	6,460	4,836
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	5,843	6,460
Income (loss) from operations	589	435
Unallocated Amounts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations	$ (983)	$ (3,747)