Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Deferred Stock Units [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 9,539	$ 547,692	$ 3,647	$ 702,031	$ 5,675	$ (830,390)	$ 438,194		$ 438,194
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2008	95,387
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income				122,225			122,225	10	122,235
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax					401		401		401
Unrealized net gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax					(10,105)		(10,105)		(10,105)
Translation adjustment					14,370		14,370		14,370
Total comprehensive income							126,891	10	126,901
Repuchases of common stock, net						(84,369)	(84,369)		(84,369)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	947
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	94	22,000	(34)				22,060		22,060
Issuance of deferred stock units			418				418		418
Vesting of deferred stock units		(270)	270
Share-based compensation cost recognized		11,375					11,375		11,375
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2009	9,633	580,797	4,301	824,256	10,341	(914,759)	514,569	10	514,579
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009	96,334
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income				141,284			141,284	36	141,320
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax					176		176		176
Unrealized net gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax					730		730		730
Translation adjustment					2,220		2,220		2,220
Total comprehensive income							144,410	36	144,446
Repuchases of common stock, net						(145,888)	(145,888)		(145,888)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	1,634
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	164	48,004	(455)				47,713		47,713
Issuance of deferred stock units			362				362		362
Vesting of deferred stock units		(225)	225
Share-based compensation cost recognized		13,069					13,069		13,069
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2010	9,797	641,645	4,433	965,540	13,467	(1,060,647)	574,235	46	574,281
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	97,968								97,968
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income				161,786			161,786	(32)	161,754
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax					(108)		(108)		(108)
Unrealized net gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax					5,763		5,763		5,763
Translation adjustment					(3,679)		(3,679)		(3,679)
Total comprehensive income							163,762	(32)	163,730
Repuchases of common stock, net						(259,729)	(259,729)		(259,729)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	1,261
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	126	45,747					45,873		45,873
Issuance of deferred stock units			91				91		91
Vesting of deferred stock units		(164)	164
Share-based compensation cost recognized		15,347					15,347		15,347
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 9,923	$ 702,575	$ 4,688	$ 1,127,326	$ 15,443	$ (1,320,376)	$ 539,579	$ 14	$ 539,593
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	99,229								99,229