Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Selected quarterly financial information:
Net revenues	$ 2,898,584	$ 2,904,078	$ 2,842,705	$ 2,743,112	$ 2,821,124	$ 2,847,330	$ 2,886,953	$ 2,849,444	$ 11,388,479	$ 11,404,851	$ 10,876,634
Operating income	462,588	378,336	461,886	340,507	387,908	289,038	438,192	410,686	1,643,317	1,525,824	1,812,755
Amounts attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations	242,242	150,113	194,223	120,254	160,332	73,371	199,603	191,015	706,832	624,321	901,277
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	2,629	(6,843)	79,328	29,035	(310,104)	(210,167)	67,673	(12,329)	104,149	(464,927)	(237,659)
Net (loss) income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 244,871	$ 143,270	$ 273,551	$ 149,289	$ (149,772)	$ (136,796)	$ 267,276	$ 178,686	$ 810,981	$ 159,394	$ 663,618
Earnings per share attributable to DaVita Inc.:
Basic net income from continuing operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 1.87	$ 1.00	$ 1.17	$ 0.72	$ 0.97	$ 0.44	$ 1.16	$ 1.07	$ 4.61	$ 3.66	$ 4.78
Basic net loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	0.02	(0.05)	0.47	0.18	(1.87)	(1.26)	0.40	(0.07)	0.68	(2.73)	(1.26)
Basic net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	1.89	0.95	1.64	0.90	(0.90)	(0.82)	1.56	1.00	5.29	0.93	3.52
Diluted net income from continuing operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	1.86	0.99	1.16	0.72	0.96	0.44	1.15	1.05	4.60	3.62	4.71
Diluted net loss from discontinued operations per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	0.02	(0.04)	0.48	0.18	(1.86)	(1.26)	0.38	(0.07)	0.67	(2.70)	(1.24)
Diluted net income per share attributable to DaVita Inc. (in usd per share)	$ 1.88	$ 0.95	$ 1.64	$ 0.90	$ (0.90)	$ (0.82)	$ 1.53	$ 0.98	$ 5.27	$ 0.92	$ 3.47
Footnotes to Selected Quarterly Financial Information:
Goodwill impairment charges									$ 124,892	$ 3,106	$ 36,196
Equity investment (loss) income									12,679	(4,484)	(8,640)
Equity Loss And Asset Impairment						$ 12,088
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment							$ 14,351		124,892	61,981	981,589
Business combination, equity interest in acquiree, remeasurement gain (loss), net					$ (19,437)
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Plan Modification, Incremental Cost						23,470				14,704
APAC JV - Deconsolidated Noncontrolling Entity
Footnotes to Selected Quarterly Financial Information:
Equity investment (loss) income					$ 1,530				12,679	(4,484)	(8,640)
Paladina
Footnotes to Selected Quarterly Financial Information:
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal						1,506	$ (33,957)
Pharmacy
Footnotes to Selected Quarterly Financial Information:
Restructuring Charges						$ 11,366
Other - Ancillary services
Selected quarterly financial information:
Net revenues									957,898	1,161,852	$ 1,571,745
Footnotes to Selected Quarterly Financial Information:
Goodwill impairment charges		$ 83,855							$ 124,892	$ 3,106
GERMANY | Kidney Care
Footnotes to Selected Quarterly Financial Information:
Goodwill impairment charges		$ 78,439		$ 41,037