Name:	lh_CreditFacilityMaximumSwingLineBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total Short and Long Term Debt Issuance Costs

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lh_TotalShortandLongTermDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	lh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of debt and lease obligation, classified as current.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(21))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123466505&loc=SL123495323-112611

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=125515794&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=125515794&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, excluding unamortized premium (discount) and debt issuance cost, of long-term debt classified as noncurrent. Excludes lease obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	lh_ScheduleOfOtherIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lh_SeniorNotesDue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lh_SeniorLongTermNotesDue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lh_Seniornotesdue2027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lh_SeniorNotesDue2024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	lh_SwapTypeAxis=lh_A2022SwapAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lh_SeniorNotesDue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	lh_SwapTypeAxis=lh_A2018SwapAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lh_SeniorNotesDue2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

DEBT - SENIOR NOTES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
DEBT - SENIOR NOTES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 19, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, Current	$ (301.3)	$ (1.5)
Total Short and Long Term Debt Issuance Costs	33.8
Credit Facility, Maximum Swing Line Borrowings			$ 100.0
Long-term debt, less current portion	$ 5,038.8	5,416.5
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.298%
2.70% senior notes due 2031		502.9
Intangible assets, net	$ 3,946.9	3,735.5
1.55% senior notes due 2026	500.0	500.0
4.00% Senior notes due 2023		300.0
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2.70% senior notes due 2031	420.3
In Process Research and Development
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Intangible assets, net	$ 9.1	9.1
Senior notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (in hundredths)	4.625%
Senior notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, less current portion	$ 500.0	500.0		$ 600.0
Senior notes due 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, less current portion	600.0	$ 600.0
Senior notes due 2024 \| 2022 Swap Agreements
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	300.0
Senior notes due 2022 \| 2018 Swap Agreements
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	300.0
Senior Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
4.00% Senior notes due 2023	$ 0.0