Name:	lh_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureEstimatedFutureBenefitsPaymentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum deferral percentage of annual base salary

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lh_Maximumdeferralpercentageofannualbasesalary
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum deferral percentage of annual cash incentive pay

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lh_Maximumdeferralpercentageofannualcashincentivepay
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointChangeInAssumedHealthCareCostTrendRatesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of effect of a one-percentage-point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for health care benefits.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of effect of a one-percentage-point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointDecreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effect of a one-percentage-point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for health care benefits.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointIncreaseOnAccumulatedPostretirementBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effect of a one-percentage-point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEffectOfOnePercentagePointIncreaseOnServiceAndInterestCostComponents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureBenefitPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the five fiscal years after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The assumed health care cost trend rate for the next year used to measure the expected cost of benefits covered by the plan (gross eligible charges). This is based upon the annual rate of change in the cost of health care benefits currently provided by the postretirement benefit plan, due to factors other than changes in the composition of the plan population by age and dependency status.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (l)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Health Care Cost Trend Rate

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6514820

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The ultimate trend rate for health care costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Year the ultimate health care cost trend rate is expected to be reached, in CCYY format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanYearThatRateReachesUltimateTrendRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT PLANS, OTHER DISCLOSURES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Postretirement Benefit Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Defined Benefit Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Line items]
Maximum deferral percentage of annual cash incentive pay	100.00%
Defined Benefit Plans, Estimated Future Benefit Payments [Abstract]
Benefit payments expected in 2013		$ 2.5		$ 23.4
Benefit payments expected in 2014		2.7		23.4
Benefit payments expected in 2015		2.9		23.5
Benefit payments expected in 2016		3.0		23.3
Benefit payments expected in 2017		3.1		23.4
Benefit payments expected in 2018-2022		17.9		120.5
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One-Percentage Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates [Abstract]
Discount rate		5.00%	4.20%	4.80%	4.00%	4.00%
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next fiscal year		7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate		5.00%
Year that rate reaches ultimate trend rate		2021
Impact of a percentage point increase each year in the assumed health care cost trend rate on the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation	8.7
Impact of a percentage point decrease each year in the assumed health care cost trend rate on the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation	7.3
Impact of a percentage point increase each year in the assumed health care cost trend rate on the service and interest cost components	0.5
Impact of a percentage point decrease each year in the assumed health care cost trend rate on the service and interest cost components	$ 0.4
Maximum deferral percentage of annual base salary	50.00%