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STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Changes in Options Outstanding Under the Stock Incentive Plans [Rollforward]      
Shares authorized for issuance under the 2008 and 2000 Stock Incentive Plans 10.2us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized    
Shares available for grant under the Company's stock option plans 6.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant    
Award vesting period (in years) 3 years    
Stock Options Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31, 2011      
Aggregate intrinsic value, vested and expected to vest options $ 88.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue    
Stock Options Exercised, Impact Disclosures      
Cash received by the Company 98.5us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 158.0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 69.4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
Tax benefits realized 12.3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 21.3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 9.7us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
Aggregate intrinsic value 32.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 55.4us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 25.3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
Assumptions the Company Used to Develop Fair Value Estimates      
Fair value per option     $ 13.43us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Fair value of the employee's purchase right $ 19.48lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanFairValueEmployeePurchaseRight $ 17.22lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanFairValueEmployeePurchaseRight $ 23.02lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanFairValueEmployeePurchaseRight
Fair Values of Options Granted and the Employee's Purchase Right in the Stock Purchase Plan      
Stock option plan expense 6.9us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense 14.5us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense 21.5us-gaap_StockOptionPlanExpense
Restricted Stock and Performance Shares      
Restricted stock, vesting increment one third increments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant    
Performance share awards, vesting conditions Performance share awards are subject to certain earnings per share, revenue, operating income, earnings before income taxes and total shareholder return targets    
Restricted stock and performance share compensation expense 34.8lh_RestrictedStockPerformanceSharesExpense 19.3lh_RestrictedStockPerformanceSharesExpense 14.3lh_RestrictedStockPerformanceSharesExpense
Unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock and performance share-based compensation arrangements 40.0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized    
Unrecognized compensation cost weighted average expected future recognition period (in years) 1 year 8 months 18 days    
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Disclosure      
Shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the employee stock purchase plan 6.3lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanNumberOfAuthorizedShares    
The employee stock purchase plan permits employees to purchase shares of common stock at a certain percentage of the market price (in hundredths) 85.00%lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanPercentOfMarketPrice    
Number of shares purchased by eligible employees 0.2lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanNumberOfSharesPurchased    
Expense related to the Company's employee stock purchase plan 4.0lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanExpense 3.5lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanExpense 4.9lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanExpense
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]      
Assumptions the Company Used to Develop Fair Value Estimates      
Risk free interest rate 0.10%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.10%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.10%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Expected volatility 20.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
20.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
20.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Expected dividend yield 0.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
0.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= lh_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
Restricted Stock and Performance Shares [Member]      
Summary of Nonvested Shares      
Nonvested, beginning of period 0.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Number of options granted 0.6us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Number of options vested (0.2)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Nonvested, end of period 1.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Weighted-average grant date fair value, nonvested, beginning of period $ 90.70us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Weighted-average grant date fair value, granted $ 91.77us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Weighted-average grant date fair value, vested $ 90.62us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period 0.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Weighted-average grant date fair value, nonvested, end of period $ 91.30us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Disclosure      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeitures, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 90.61us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= lh_RestrictedStockAndPerformanceSharesMember
   
Stock Options [Member]      
Changes in Options Outstanding Under the Stock Incentive Plans, Additional Disclosures      
Number of options outstanding, beginning balance 4.6us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Number of options granted 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Number of options exercised (1.3)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Number of options cancelled 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Number of options outstanding, ending balance 3.3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average exercise price per option, outstanding, beginning balance $ 80.18us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average exercise price per option granted $ 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average exercise price per option exercised $ 77.70us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average exercise price per option cancelled $ 0.00us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average exercise price per option, outstanding, ending balance $ 81.07us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual term of options outstanding (in years) 5 years 7 months    
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding 88.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Stock Options Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31, 2011      
Number of options vested and expected to vest 3.3us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average exercise price per option, vested and expected to vest options $ 81.05us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average exercise price per exercisable option $ 80.35us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual term, vested and expected to vest options (in years) 5 years 7 months    
Number of options exercisable 2.8us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual term, exercisable options (in years) 5 years 3 months    
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable options $ 76.1us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableAggregateIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Assumptions the Company Used to Develop Fair Value Estimates      
Weighted average expected life (in years)     3 years 4 months 24 days
Risk free interest rate     0.40%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Expected volatility     20.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Expected dividend yield     0.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember