ACQUISITIONS, ASSET PURCHASES AND INVESTMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2024 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) arrangement	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment acquired, non-controlling interest share								$ 0	$ 25,000	$ 0
Goodwill				$ 359,345				$ 365,961	361,795	359,345	$ 243,347
Noncontrolling interest, remaining percentage purchased from noncontrolling owners (percent)				5.00%
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest				$ 1,000					$ 0	990
Noncompete agreements | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life								5 years
International Water Testing Company | Canada
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business			$ 12,800
Goodwill			$ 6,900
International Water Testing Company | Canada | Technology-based intangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life			10 years
Net tangible assets			$ 3,400
International Water Testing Company | Canada | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life			10 years
Net tangible assets			$ 1,200
International Water Testing Company | Canada | New tangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets			1,300
Reference Laboratory | Finland
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business				13,400
Holdback			$ 1,300	1,400						1,400
Goodwill				6,900						6,900
Liabilities				$ 1,700						$ 1,700
Reference Laboratory | Finland | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life				10 years						10 years
Net tangible assets				$ 7,400						$ 7,400
Reference Laboratory | Finland | Noncompete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life				3 years						3 years
Net tangible assets				$ 800						$ 800
Reference Laboratory | Switzerland
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill							$ 1,800
Liabilities							600
Consideration transferred							5,500
Contingent payment and holdback							$ 1,100
Reference Laboratory | Switzerland | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life							9 years
Intangible assets acquired							$ 4,300
Teleradiology Business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill					$ 3,700
Consideration transferred					5,400
Contingent consideration					300
Teleradiology Business | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets					$ 1,700
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets					10 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets						$ 3,200
Goodwill						109,400
Consideration transferred						157,200
Contingent consideration				7,000		5,000				$ 7,000
Change in amount of contingent payable				2,000
Acquisition expenses				$ 2,200
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | IDEXX VetLab consumables
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill						23,400
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill						27,000
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Rapid assay products
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill						11,100
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Veterinary software, services and diagnostic imaging systems:
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill						47,900
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Technology-based intangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets						$ 8,400
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets						6 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets						$ 32,000
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets						10 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Noncompete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets						$ 1,800
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets						5 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets						$ 2,400
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets						14 years
License Intellectual Property Rights
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of arrangements related to license intellectual property | arrangement									2
Payments to acquire productive assets		$ 15,000							$ 65,000
Payable to acquire productive assets									15,000
Perpetual Intellectual Property License
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire productive assets									$ 10,000
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life									10 years
Assets Of A Privately Owned Software And Data Platform Business | Subsequent Event
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration transferred	$ 77,000
Contingent payment period	3 years
Assets Of A Privately Owned Software And Data Platform Business | Subsequent Event | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent payments	$ 30,000