Segment Reporting (Summary of Segment Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 860,546		$ 826,142		$ 1,697,095	$ 1,603,849
Income from operations	179,066		259,253		427,410	506,875
Interest expense, net	(7,983)		(7,522)		(14,836)	(15,054)
Income before provision for income taxes	171,083		251,731		412,574	491,821
Provision for income taxes	39,104		49,125		86,630	84,926
Net income	131,979	$ 193,965	202,606	$ 204,289	325,944	406,895
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0		24		0	56
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	131,979		202,582		325,944	406,839
CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	784,087		745,595		1,545,271	1,438,362
Income from operations	156,526		234,735		379,651	447,945
Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	39,195		37,191		75,566	71,231
Income from operations	17,920		17,228		34,574	32,000
LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	29,889		33,524		60,759	72,794
Income from operations	3,230		6,868		9,967	20,676
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	7,375		9,832		15,499	21,462
Income from operations	$ 1,390		$ 422		$ 3,218	$ 6,254