Segment Reporting (Schedule of Segment Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 915,527			$ 841,661			$ 2,759,352	$ 2,538,756
Income from operations	275,283			244,828			851,826	672,238
Interest expense, net	(7,392)			(10,645)			(30,318)	(25,481)
Income before provision for income taxes	267,891			234,183			821,508	646,757
Provision for income taxes	55,660			53,245			170,987	139,875
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	212,231	$ 224,236	$ 214,054	180,938	$ 131,979	$ 193,965	650,521	506,882
CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	837,160			764,990			2,531,091	2,310,261
Income from operations	253,358			221,454			790,617	601,105
Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	44,450			40,840			126,362	116,406
Income from operations	20,328			19,924			57,119	54,498
LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	29,747			28,452			88,866	89,211
Income from operations	2,405			4,480			5,664	14,447
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	4,170			7,379			13,033	22,878
Income from operations	$ (808)			$ (1,030)			$ (1,574)	$ 2,188