Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Restricted cash	$ 0	$ 700,000
Goodwill impairments	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Intangible assets impairments	0	0	0
Revenue recognition, multiple-deliverable arrangements, years	one to six years
Advertising costs	1,200,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense	1,500,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense	1,100,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Foreign currency transaction losses	(2,000,000)	(100,000)	(200,000)
Fair value of long-term debt	367,300,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Carrying value of long-term debt	350,000,000us-gaap_SecuredLongTermDebt	150,359,000us-gaap_SecuredLongTermDebt
Fair value of notes receivable		$ 5,100,000
Percentage of Revenue From Henry Schein [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of IDEXX consolidated total	8.00%	9.00%	9.00%
Percentage of Accounts Receivable From Henry Schein [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of IDEXX consolidated total	2.00%	7.00%
Percentage of Revenue From MWI Veterinary Supply [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of IDEXX consolidated total	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Percentage of Accounts Receivable From MWI Veterinary Supply [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of IDEXX consolidated total	8.00%	11.00%

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Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line.

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For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

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Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

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Amount of loss from the write-down of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of an intangible asset (excluding goodwill) to fair value.

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The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

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Fair value portion of an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the holder a definite sum of money at a future date.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

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Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements including, at a minimum (as applicable): (1) the nature of such arrangements, (2) the significant deliverables within the arrangements, (3) the general timing of delivery or performance of service for the deliverables within the arrangements, (4) performance-, cancellation-, termination- or refund-type provisions, (5) a discussion of the significant factors, inputs, assumptions, and methods used to determine selling price (whether vendor-specific objective evidence, third-party evidence, or estimated selling price) for the significant deliverables, (6) whether the significant deliverables in the arrangements qualify as separate units of accounting and the reasons that they do not qualify as separate units of accounting, if applicable, and (7) the general timing of revenue recognition for significant units of accounting. This element is applicable to all multiple-deliverable arrangements, including software arrangements (for example, software products, upgrades or enhancements, postcontract customer support, or services).

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Carrying amount of collateralized debt obligations with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, excluding the current portion. Obligations include, but not limited to, mortgage loans, chattel loans, and other borrowings secured by assets.

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