Consolidating Financial Statements - Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 830,555	$ 1,033,082	$ 427,410
Other comprehensive loss	102,876	(29,627)	(34,809)
Total comprehensive income	933,431	1,003,455	392,601
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(166,935)	(153,398)	(157,678)
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	766,496	850,057	234,923
Reportable Legal Entites \| DaVita Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	663,618	879,874	269,732
Other comprehensive loss	3,106	(290)	(10,920)
Total comprehensive income	666,724	879,584	258,812
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	666,724	879,584	258,812
Reportable Legal Entites \| Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	478,192	693,720	174,957
Other comprehensive loss	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	478,192	693,720	174,957
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	478,192	693,720	174,957
Reportable Legal Entites \| Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	241,312	820,486	479,700
Other comprehensive loss	99,770	(29,337)	(23,889)
Total comprehensive income	341,082	791,149	455,811
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	341,082	791,149	455,811
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(552,567)	(1,360,998)	(496,979)
Other comprehensive loss	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(552,567)	(1,360,998)	(496,979)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(166,935)	(153,398)	(157,678)
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ (719,502)	$ (1,514,396)	$ (654,657)

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Other Comprehensive Income
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831270

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831223

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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