Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 56,938	$ 57,244	$ 103,516	$ 103,837
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	7,298	2,200	(12,934)	3,479
Unrealized gain on net investment hedge	737		737
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of tax expense of $12 and $31 in 2015 and $36 and $4 in 2014	(26)	59	7	5
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized (loss) gain, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($1,233) and $1,849 in 2015 and ($890) and ($1,013) in 2014	(2,885)	(1,924)	4,300	(2,177)
Less: reclassification adjustment for losses (gains) included in net income, net of tax benefit (expense) of ($1,451) and ($2,704) in 2015 and $138 and $91 in 2014	(3,350)	251	(6,314)	102
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(6,235)	(1,673)	(2,014)	(2,075)
Other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax	1,774	586	(14,204)	1,409
Comprehensive income	58,712	57,830	89,312	105,246
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	26	26	10	34
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 58,686	$ 57,804	$ 89,302	$ 105,212