Consolidating Financial Statements - Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 1,021,294	$ 333,040	$ 830,555
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(12,574)	(39,791)	102,876
Total comprehensive income	1,008,720	293,249	933,431
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(210,313)	(173,646)	(166,935)
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	798,407	119,603	766,496
Reportable Legal Entites | DaVita Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	810,981	159,394	663,618
Other comprehensive income (loss)	7,528	6,153	3,106
Total comprehensive income	818,509	165,547	666,724
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	818,509	165,547	666,724
Reportable Legal Entites | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	906,559	771,945	1,227,623
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	906,559	771,945	1,227,623
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	906,559	771,945	1,227,623
Reportable Legal Entites | Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	552,231	(106,366)	(122,233)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(20,102)	(45,944)	99,770
Total comprehensive income	532,129	(152,310)	(22,463)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	532,129	(152,310)	(22,463)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(1,248,477)	(491,933)	(938,453)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	(1,248,477)	(491,933)	(938,453)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(210,313)	(173,646)	(166,935)
Comprehensive income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ (1,458,790)	$ (665,579)	$ (1,105,388)