Fair value of financial instruments Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Potential Increase Decrease In Fair Value Of Noncontrolling Interests Due To Change In Weighted Average EBITDA Multiple	$ 150,000

Potential increase decrease In fair value of Noncontrolling interests related to contractual Put obligations due to the change In Weighted Average EBITDA multiple.

No definition available.

Name:	dva_PotentialIncreaseDecreaseInFairValueOfNoncontrollingInterestsDueToChangeInWeightedAverageEBITDAMultiple
Namespace Prefix:	dva_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration