CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 845,042	$ 679,089	$ 744,844
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	17,725	(25,692)	(26,731)
Defined benefit plans, net of tax expense of $(267) in 2023, $(613) in 2022, and $— in 2021	(1,302)	(3,282)	0
Reclassification adjustment for defined benefit plans included in net income, net of tax of $111 in 2023, $99 in 2022, and $— in 2021	519	506	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on Euro-denominated notes, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(811) in 2023, $1,411 in 2022, and $2,011 in 2021	(2,601)	4,525	6,404
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $3 in 2023, $(14) in 2022, and $46 in 2021	8	(46)	146
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency exchange contracts, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(143) in 2023, $5,954 in 2022, and $2,133 in 2021	(792)	14,851	9,139
Unrealized gain (loss) on cross currency swaps, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(1,754) in 2023, $1,190 in 2022, and $1,699 in 2021	(5,629)	3,817	5,399
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swap, net of tax expense (benefit) of $976 in 2023, $— in 2022, and $— in 2021	3,131	0	0
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(1,699) in 2023, $(6,742) in 2022, and $1,347 in 2021	(4,469)	(18,991)	5,774
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments	(7,759)	(323)	20,312
Other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax	6,590	(24,312)	131
Comprehensive income	851,632	654,777	744,975
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	(1)
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 851,632	$ 654,777	$ 744,976