Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 69,058	$ 46,025
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	8,014	6,016
Unrealized (loss) gain on net investment hedge	(1,093)	2,224
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($26) in 2017 and $70 in 2016	(39)	205
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $912 in 2017 and $1,443 in 2016	(1,534)	(3,266)
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax expense of $401 in 2017 and $170 in 2016	(674)	(429)
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments	(2,208)	(3,695)
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax	4,674	4,750
Comprehensive income	73,732	50,775
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	39	6
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 73,693	$ 50,769