Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 70,514	$ 56,452	$ 224,979	$ 169,683
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	8,282	1,687	24,250	10,873
Unrealized loss on net investment hedge	(2,035)	(732)	(6,895)	(1,649)
Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax expense of $12 and $35 in 2017 and $19 and $134 in 2016	23	9	109	334
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments:
Unrealized loss, net of tax (benefit) of ($1,836) and ($5,035) in 2017 and ($57) and ($694) in 2016	(3,090)	(129)	(8,472)	(1,570)
Less: reclassification adjustment for loss (gains) included in net income, net of tax benefit (expense) of $333 and ($348) in 2017 and ($197) and ($313) in 2016	560	(451)	(587)	(804)
Unrealized (loss) on derivative instruments	(2,530)	(580)	(9,059)	(2,374)
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax	3,740	384	8,405	7,184
Comprehensive income	74,254	56,836	233,384	176,867
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	3	(3)	92	7
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 74,251	$ 56,839	$ 233,292	$ 176,860