Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 620,103		$ 580,752		$ 1,196,159	$ 1,118,408
Income (loss) from operations	164,275		145,594		297,413	258,638
Interest expense, net	(8,153)		(8,285)		(16,499)	(16,980)
Income before provision for income taxes	156,122		137,309		280,914	241,658
Provision for income taxes	30,421		28,629		52,504	43,502
Net income	125,701	$ 102,709	108,680	$ 89,476	228,410	198,156
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5)		(11)		23	14
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	125,706		108,691		228,387	198,142
CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	547,349		507,487		1,056,267	978,320
Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	34,764		32,658		65,074	61,801
LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	33,104		34,998		64,610	67,238
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,886		5,609		10,208	11,049
Operating Segments | CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	547,349		507,487		1,056,267	978,320
Income (loss) from operations	144,583		129,796		259,605	230,194
Operating Segments | Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	34,764		32,658		65,074	61,801
Income (loss) from operations	16,567		15,122		30,349	27,584
Operating Segments | LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	33,104		34,998		64,610	67,238
Income (loss) from operations	6,393		6,471		12,643	9,432
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,886		5,609		10,208	11,049
Income (loss) from operations	752		1,130		2,278	1,628
Unallocated Amounts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations	$ (4,020)		$ (6,925)		$ (7,462)	$ (10,200)