Business Segments [Disclosure] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	2020		2019		2018
Revenues:
Dx	$	9,253.4	$	7,000.1	$	7,030.8
DD	4,877.7		4,578.1		4,313.1
Intercompany eliminations and other	(152.6)		(23.4)		(10.5)
Total revenues	$	13,978.5	$	11,554.8	$	11,333.4
Operating Earnings:
Dx	$	2,634.9	$	1,086.0	$	1,166.7
DD	37.3		411.5		303.6
General corporate expenses	(226.8)		(167.3)		(144.6)
Total operating income	2,445.4		1,330.2		1,325.7
Non-operating expenses, net	(226.3)		(225.3)		(57.4)
Earnings before income taxes	2,219.1		1,104.9		1,268.3
Provision for income taxes	662.1		280.0		384.4
Net earnings	1,557.0		824.9		883.9
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.9)		(1.1)		(0.2)
Net income attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$	1,556.1	$	823.8	$	883.7

	2020		2019		2018
Depreciation and Amortization
Dx	$	327.5	$	301.0	$	293.3
DD	295.2		261.1		247.3
General corporate	2		2.6		2.6
Total depreciation and amortization	$	624.7	$	564.7	$	543.2

	Dx		DD		Intercompany Eliminations and Other		Total
Geographic distribution of revenues
North America	$	9,253.4	$	2,424.5	$	(152.6)	$	11,525.3
Europe	—		1,512.2		—		1,512.2
Other	—		941.0		—		941.0
Total revenues	$	9,253.4	$	4,877.7	$	(152.6)	$	13,978.5

	Dx		DD		Total
Geographic distribution of property, plant and equipment, net
North America	$	1,515.3	$	665.3	$	2,180.6
Europe	—		425.5		425.5
Other	—		123.5		123.5
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,515.3	$	1,214.3	$	2,729.6