Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Parent Company [Member] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Assets [Abstract] Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $2,253 in 2010 and $2,331 in 2009 Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $2,428 in 2009 and $2,093 in 2008 Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Inventories, net Inventory, Net, Total Deferred income tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Other current assets Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Long-Term Assets: Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property and equipment, net Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Other intangible assets, net Intangible assets, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Other long-term assets, net Other long-term assets, net Total long-term assets Total long-term assets Total Assets TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Current Liabilities: Accounts Payable Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Current portion of line of credit Line of credit Current portion of long-term debt Current portion of deferred revenue Current portion of deferred revenue Current portion of deferred revenue Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-Term Liabilities: Deferred tax liabilities Deferred income tax liabilities Long-term debt, net of current portion Long-term deferred revenue, net of current portion Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent, Total Other long-term liabilities Other long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12) Stockholders' Equity: Common stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized: 120,000 shares; Issued: 97,294 and 96,334 shares in 2010 and 2009, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Dollar value of deferred stock units which have vested and will settle and convert to common stock not earlier than one year from the date the recipients resign their positions with the company. The shares of common stock associated with these deferred stock units are issuable for no cash consideration, the number of shares of common stock to be issued is fixed and issuance is not contingent. Deferred Stock Units Value Deferred stock units: Outstanding: 128 and 117 units in 2010 and 2009, respectively Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Treasury stock, at cost: 37,631 and 36,164 shares in 2009 and 2008, respectively Treasury stock, at cost: 39,680 and 38,118 shares in 2010 and 2009, respectively Treasury stock, at cost: 37,631 and 36,164 shares in 2009 and 2008, respectively Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, at cost: 37,631 and 36,164 shares in 2009 and 2008, respectively Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Scenario, Actual [Member] Accounts Receivable, Reserves Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Common stock, Par Value Common stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, Shares Issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Total number of deferred stock units that have vested but remain unissued as common stock. Common stock will be issued not earlier than one year from the date the recipient resigns from the company. The shares of common stock associated with these deferred stock units are issuable for no cash consideration, the number of shares of common stock to be issued is fixed and issuance is not contingent. Deferred stock units, Outstanding Treasury stock, Shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Income Statement [Abstract] Revenue: Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Product revenue Product revenue Sales Revenue, Services, Net Service revenue Service revenue Total revenue Total revenue Cost of Revenue: Cost of product revenue Cost of product revenue Cost of service revenue Cost of service revenue Total cost of revenue Total cost of revenue Gross profit Gross profit Expenses: Sales and marketing Sales and marketing General and administrative General and administrative Research and development Research and development Income from operations Income from operations Interest expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest Income, Deposits with Financial Institutions, Total Interest income Interest Income, Deposits with Financial Institutions, Total Income before provision for income taxes Income before provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Profit Loss Net income Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest Net income Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders Earnings per Share: Earnings Per Share Basic Basic Basic Earnings Per Share Diluted Diluted Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Weighted Average Shares Outstanding: Basic Basic Diluted Diluted Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Loss on disposal of property and equipment Loss on disposal of property and equipment Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment, Total Increase (decrease) in deferred compensation liability Write-down of marketable securities Provision for uncollectible accounts Provision for (benefit of) deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Share-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Tax benefit from exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units Tax benefit from exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Accounts receivable Increase Decrease In Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Other assets Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Total Accrued liability Accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities, Total Deferred revenue Deferred revenue Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from disposition of pharmaceutical product lines Proceeds from disposition of pharmaceutical product lines Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets, Total Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets Acquisitions of intangible assets Acquisitions of intangible assets Acquisitions of intangible assets Acquisitions of intangible assets and businesses, net of cash acquired Net cash used by investing activities Net cash used by investing activities Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Borrowings on revolving credit facilities, net Proceeds from (Repayments of) Other Debt, Total Payment of other notes payable Payment of other notes payable Purchase of treasury stock Purchase of treasury stock Proceeds from exercises of stock options and employee stock purchase plans Proceeds from exercises of stock options and employee stock purchase plans Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities Tax benefit from exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units Tax benefit from exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units Net cash used by financing activities Net cash used by financing activities Net effect of changes in exchange rates on cash Net effect of changes in exchange rates on cash Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Net increase in cash and cash equivalents BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION [Abstract] BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION [Abstract] Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION ACCOUNTING POLICIES Significant Accounting Policies Text Block ACCOUNTING POLICIES SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION [Abstract] SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION INVENTORIES Inventory Disclosure Text Block INVENTORIES GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS [Abstract] Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS ACCRUED LIABILITIES Other Liabilities Disclosure Text Block ACCRUED LIABILITIES WARRANTY RESERVES Product Warranty Disclosure Text Block WARRANTY RESERVES TREASURY STOCK Schedule Of Treasury Stock By Class Text Block TREASURY STOCK INCOME TAXES Income Tax Disclosure Text Block INCOME TAXES COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Comprehensive Income Note Text Block COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Earnings Per Share Text Block EARNINGS PER SHARE COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES [Abstract] COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES [Abstract] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Text Block COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND GUARANTEES SEGMENT REPORTING Segment Reporting Disclosure Text Block SEGMENT REPORTING FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures Text Block FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure Text Block DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING