Segment Reporting (Summary Of Segment Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 466,569	$ 413,343	$ 884,119	$ 795,820
Income (loss) from operations	104,162	88,303	177,955	161,106
Interest expense, net	(7,276)	(6,700)	(14,760)	(12,579)
Income before provision for income taxes	96,886	81,603	163,195	148,527
Provision for income taxes	29,680	24,665	49,964	45,011
Net income	67,206	56,938	113,231	103,516
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	4	26	10	10
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	67,202	56,912	113,221	103,506
Depreciation and amortization			38,210	32,944
Expenditures for long-lived assets			37,868	46,873
CAG Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	400,223	351,620	757,862	676,151
Income (loss) from operations	91,019	68,085	152,397	121,603
Water Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	27,829	25,051	51,381	46,749
Income (loss) from operations	12,743	11,951	22,422	21,312
LPD Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	32,856	32,059	63,712	63,329
Income (loss) from operations	5,069	6,579	9,639	13,535
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	5,661	4,613	11,164	9,591
Income (loss) from operations	(920)	(933)	(1,757)	(1,255)
Unallocated Amounts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations	$ (3,749)	$ 2,621	$ (4,746)	$ 5,911