Segment Reporting (Summary of Segment Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 3,215,360	$ 2,706,655	$ 2,406,908
Income from operations	932,028	694,524	552,846
Interest expense, net	(29,374)	(32,539)	(30,628)
Income before provision for income taxes	902,654	661,985	522,218
Provision for income taxes	157,810	79,854	94,426
Net income	744,844	582,131	427,792
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1)	355	72
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	744,845	581,776	427,720
Depreciation and amortization	104,596	95,998	88,011
CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,889,960	2,385,765	2,119,183
Income from operations	824,022	574,887	462,605
Depreciation and amortization	94,202	84,697	77,620
Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	146,505	128,625	132,850
Income from operations	65,444	58,867	61,923
Depreciation and amortization	2,709	2,630	2,794
LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	135,887	145,845	132,635
Income from operations	28,636	40,008	24,735
Depreciation and amortization	3,908	4,070	4,007
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	43,008	46,420	22,240
Income from operations	13,926	20,762	3,583
Depreciation and amortization	$ 3,777	$ 4,601	$ 3,590