Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 576,056	$ 537,656
Income (loss) from operations	133,138	113,044
Interest expense, net	(8,346)	(8,695)
Income before provision for income taxes	124,792	104,349
Provision for income taxes	22,083	14,873
Net income	102,709	89,476
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	28	25
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	102,681	89,451
CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	508,918	470,833
Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	30,310	29,143
LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	31,506	32,240
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	5,322	5,440
Operating Segments | CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	508,918	470,833
Income (loss) from operations	115,022	100,398
Operating Segments | Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	30,310	29,143
Income (loss) from operations	13,782	12,462
Operating Segments | LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	31,506	32,240
Income (loss) from operations	6,250	2,961
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	5,322	5,440
Income (loss) from operations	1,526	498
Unallocated Amounts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations	$ (3,442)	$ (3,275)