Segment Reporting - Summary of Segment Performance (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 626,336	$ 576,056
Income (loss) from operations	144,325	133,138
Interest expense, net	(7,552)	(8,346)
Income before provision for income taxes	136,773	124,792
Provision for income taxes	24,917	22,083
Net income	111,856	102,709
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	29	28
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	111,827	102,681
CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	551,996	508,918
Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	34,149	30,310
LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	34,154	31,506
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6,037	5,322
Operating Segments | CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	551,996	508,918
Income (loss) from operations	118,659	111,719
Operating Segments | Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	34,149	30,310
Income (loss) from operations	15,882	13,815
Operating Segments | LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	34,154	31,506
Income (loss) from operations	9,663	6,289
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6,037	5,322
Income (loss) from operations	$ 121	$ 1,315