CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 744,844	$ 582,131	$ 427,792
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(26,731)	15,151	(1,590)
Unrealized gain (loss) on Euro-denominated notes, net of tax expense (benefit) of $2,011 in 2021, $(2,325) in 2020 and $564 in 2019	6,404	(7,378)	1,790
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $46 in 2021, $(120) in 2020 and $84 in 2019	146	(382)	267
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency exchange contracts, net of tax expense (benefit) of $2,133 in 2021, $(2,013) in 2020 and $362 in 2019	9,139	(8,527)	1,196
Unrealized gain (loss) on cross currency swaps, net of tax expense of $1,699 in 2021, $(1,774) in 2020 and $664 in 2019	5,399	(5,626)	2,107
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $1,347 in 2021, $(158) in 2020 and $(2,467) in 2019	5,774	(671)	(8,161)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments	20,312	(14,824)	(4,858)
Other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax	131	(7,433)	(4,391)
Comprehensive income	744,975	574,698	423,401
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1)	355	72
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 744,976	$ 574,343	$ 423,329