Segment Reporting (Summary Of Segment Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 462,021	$ 417,550
Income (loss) from operations	92,243	73,793
Interest expense, net	(7,506)	(7,484)
Income before provision for income taxes	84,737	66,309
Provision for income taxes	15,679	20,284
Net income	69,058	46,025
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	39	6
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	69,019	46,019
Depreciation and amortization	20,307	18,546
Expenditures for long-lived assets	23,647	21,906
CAG Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	403,227	357,639
Income (loss) from operations	79,855	61,378
Water Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	25,077	23,552
Income (loss) from operations	10,263	9,679
LPD Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	29,317	30,856
Income (loss) from operations	3,802	4,570
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,400	5,503
Income (loss) from operations	393	(837)
Unallocated Amounts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations	$ (2,070)	$ (997)

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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