Segment Reporting (Summary Of Segment Performance) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012 segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business segments													3
Revenue	$ 351,959	$ 383,523	$ 390,122	$ 360,203	$ 354,073	$ 338,297	$ 352,583	$ 332,106	$ 1,485,807		$ 1,377,058		$ 1,293,338
Income (loss) from operations	34,801	72,189	83,219	70,046	61,328	65,485	78,763	61,188	260,255		266,762		262,563
Interest expense, net									(13,700)		(3,501)		(1,946)
Income before provision for income taxes									246,555		263,261		260,617
Provision for income taxes									64,604		75,467		82,330
Net income									181,951		187,794		178,287
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									45		(6)		20
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	25,961	52,142	57,218	46,585	43,258	45,688	53,995	44,860	181,906		187,800		178,267
Depreciation and amortization									58,888		54,596		52,408
Expenditures for long-lived assets									60,523	[1]	77,612	[1]	57,618
CAG Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									1,236,855		1,150,169		1,072,211
Income (loss) from operations									213,109		218,645		203,236
Depreciation and amortization									48,740		45,079		43,042
Expenditures for long-lived assets									49,270	[1]	66,134	[1]	47,531
Water Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									94,725		87,959		84,680
Income (loss) from operations									39,262		37,321		37,687
Depreciation and amortization									2,553		2,470		2,358
Expenditures for long-lived assets									2,499	[1]	3,254	[1]	2,099
LPD Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									127,388		113,811		111,308
Income (loss) from operations									24,215		14,159		20,808
Depreciation and amortization									5,144		4,906		4,943
Expenditures for long-lived assets									4,025	[1]	5,569	[1]	5,767
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue									26,839		25,119		25,139
Income (loss) from operations									2,479		2,405		2,902
Depreciation and amortization									2,451		2,141		2,065
Expenditures for long-lived assets									4,729	[1]	2,655	[1]	2,221
Unallocated Amounts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations									$ (18,810)		$ (5,768)		$ (2,070)

[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, 2014, 2013 and 2012.