CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 175,178	$ 146,321	$ 582,073	$ 407,173
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(12,967)	7,329	(20,213)	(7,871)
Unrealized gain (loss) on Euro-denominated notes, net of tax expense (benefit) of $498 and $1,335 in 2021 and $(890) and $(1,092) in 2020	1,581	(2,824)	4,235	(3,466)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $0 and $48 in 2021 and $52 and $(129) in 2020	(1)	166	153	(408)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency exchange contracts, net of tax expense (benefit) of $940 and $1,595 in 2021 and $(1,408) and $(161) in 2020	4,109	(6,161)	7,300	(623)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cross currency swaps, net of tax expense (benefit) of $744 and $1,438 in 2021 and $(933) and $(347) in 2020	2,359	(3,941)	4,561	(1,339)
Reclassification adjustment for loss (gain) included in net income, net of tax benefit (expense) of $330 and $1,206 in 2021 and $53 and $(526) in 2020	1,253	538	5,522	(2,036)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments	7,721	(9,564)	17,383	(3,998)
Other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax	(3,666)	(4,893)	1,558	(15,743)
Comprehensive income	171,512	141,428	583,631	391,430
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(57)	102	(1)	187
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 171,569	$ 141,326	$ 583,632	$ 391,243