CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 146,321	$ 108,838	$ 407,173	$ 337,248
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	7,329	(13,912)	(7,871)	(12,231)
Unrealized (loss) gain on Euro-denominated notes, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(890) and $(1,092) in 2020 and $947 and $1,105 in 2019	(2,824)	3,007	(3,466)	3,507
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of tax (benefit) expense of $52 and $(129) in 2020 and $(21) and $93 in 2019	166	(67)	(408)	295
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency exchange contracts, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(1,408) and $(161) in 2020 and $1,240 and $1,443 in 2019	(6,161)	5,348	(623)	6,458
Unrealized gain (loss) on cross currency swaps, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(933) and $(347) in 2020 and $733 and $892 in 2019	(3,941)	3,125	(1,339)	3,993
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $53 and $(526) in 2020 and $(688) and $(1,295) in 2019	538	(2,483)	(2,036)	(5,796)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(9,564)	5,990	(3,998)	4,655
Other comprehensive (loss), net of tax	(4,893)	(4,982)	(15,743)	(3,774)
Comprehensive income	141,428	103,856	391,430	333,474
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	102	1	187	24
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 141,326	$ 103,855	$ 391,243	$ 333,450