Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] 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 Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Voluntary Filers Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Public Float Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets: Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $3,533 in 2013 and $2,632 in 2012 Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $3,533 in 2013 and $2,632 in 2012 Inventory Net Inventories Inventories Deferred income tax assets Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Long-Term Assets: Property and equipment, net Net Assets Total property and equipment, net Goodwill Ending balance Beginning balance Other intangible assets, net Intangible assets, net Other long-term assets, net Other noncurrent assets, net Total long-term assets Total long-term assets Total Assets TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts Payable Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued liabilities Accrued liabilities Current portion of line of credit Line of credit Outstanding Credit Facility balance Current portion of long-term debt Current portion of deferred revenue Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-Term Liabilities: Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred income tax liabilities Long-term debt, net of current portion Long-term deferred revenue, net of current portion Other long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Total long-term liabilities Total liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12) Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14) Stockholders' Equity: Common stock, $0.10 par value: Authorized: 120,000 shares; Issued: 97,618 and 96,334 shares in 2010 and 2009, respectively Common stock, $0.10 par value per share: Authorized: 120,000 shares; Issued: 101,188 and 100,160 shares in 2013 and 2012, respectively Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Deferred Stock Units Value Deferred stock units: Outstanding: 122 and 119 units in 2013 and 2012, respectively 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 Treasury stock, at cost: 37,631 and 36,164 shares in 2009 and 2008, respectively Treasury stock, at cost: 49,649 and 45,652 shares in 2013 and 2012, respectively Total stockholders' equity Total IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance, value Balance, value Total stockholders' equity TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Accounts receivable, reserves Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Balance, shares Balance, shares Common Stock, Other Shares, Outstanding Vested as of December 31, 2012 Deferred stock units, outstanding Treasury stock, shares Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract] Revenue: Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Product revenue Sales Revenue, Services, Net Service revenue Total revenue Total revenue Revenue Cost of Revenue: Cost of product revenue Cost of service revenue Total cost of revenue Total cost of revenue Gross profit Gross profit Gross profit Expenses: Sales and marketing General and administrative Research and development Income from operations Operating income Income from operations Income (loss) from operations Interest expense Interest expense Interest and Other Income Interest income 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 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest Net income Net income attributable to stockholders Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings per Share: Earnings Per Share Basic Basic Earnings Per Share Diluted Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Weighted Average Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Weighted Average Shares Outstanding: Basic Shares outstanding for basic earnings per share Diluted Shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Deferred Stock Units [Member] Deferred Stock Units [Member] Deferred Stock Units [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury Stock [Member] Total IDEXX Laboratories' Stockholders' Equity [Member] Total Idexx Laboratories Stockholders Equity [Member] Total IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.Stockholders' Equity [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Comprehensive Income: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income Comprehensive income Repurchases of common stock Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Gross Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Gross Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value Value of deferred stock units issued during the period which vest immediately upon issuance. Deferred stock units issued to employees will generally settle and convert to common stock not earlier than one year following their termination of employment or resignation. With respect to non-employee directors, deferred stock units issued prior to January 1, 2011 will generally settle and convert to common stock not earlier than one year from the date the recipients retire from the board. Deferred stock units issued to non-employee directors on or after January 1, 2011 will generally settle and convert to common stock: (i) not earlier than one year from the date the recipients retire from the board; or (ii) in a lump sum on another single non-discriminatory and objectively determinable date or in four equal annual installments commencing on that date. 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. Issuance Of Deferred Stock Units Issuance of deferred stock units Value of deferred stock units which vested during the period. Deferred stock units issued to employees will generally settle and convert to common stock not earlier than one year following their termination of employment or resignation. With respect to non-employee directors, deferred stock units issued prior to January 1, 2011 will generally settle and convert to common stock not earlier than one year from the date the recipients retire from the board. Deferred stock units issued to non-employee directors on or after January 1, 2011 will generally settle and convert to common stock: (i) not earlier than one year from the date the recipients retire from the board; or (ii) in a lump sum on another single non-discriminatory and objectively determinable date or in four equal annual installments commencing on that date. 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. Vesting Of Deferred Stock Units Vesting of deferred stock units Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Share-based compensation cost recognized Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Current-period other comprehensive income (loss), Unrealized gain (loss) on cumulative translation adjustment Current-period other comprehensive income (loss), Unrealized gain (loss) on cumulative translation adjustment Foreign currency translation adjustments Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $165, $68 and ($64) in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net [Abstract] Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax expense (benefit) of $1,555, ($921) and $398 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Net of Tax Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($698) and ($1,039) in 2012 and $840 and $1,365 in 2011 Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($679), ($1,623) and $1,941 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively Current-period oter comprehensive income (loss), unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments Current-period other comprehensive income (loss), Unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives instruments, net of tax Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities, Tax Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, tax expense (benefit) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax Unrealized gain (loss), tax expense (benefit) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Tax Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, tax (expense) benefit Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Loss on disposal of property and equipment Loss on disposal of property and equipment Increase in deferred compensation liability Increase (decrease) in deferred compensation liability Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal Gain on disposition of pharmaceutical product lines Provision for uncollectible accounts Provision for deferred income taxes Provision for (benefit of) deferred income taxes Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes Share-based compensation expense Tax benefit from exercises of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units Tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable Accounts receivable Increase Decrease In Inventories Inventories Increase Decrease In Othe Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Trade Accounts payable Accrued liability Accrued liabilities 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 Expenditures for long-lived assets Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets Proceeds from disposition of pharmaceutical product lines Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Proceeds from sale of property and equipment Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets Acquisitions of intangible assets Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired Net cash used by investing activities Net cash used by investing activities Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Proceeds from Repayments of Other Debt Borrowings (payments) on revolving credit facilities, net Issuance of senior notes Debt issue costs Repayments Of Secured Debt Payment of notes payable Purchase of treasury stock Repurchases of common stock Proceeds from exercises of stock options and employee stock purchase plans Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities Tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements Net cash used by financing activities Net cash used by financing activities Net effect of changes in exchange rates on cash Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information Interest Paid, Net Interest paid Income Taxes Paid, Net Income taxes paid Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Information: Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Cost of shares acquired through employee surrenders Market value of common shares received from employees in connection with share-based compensation - see Note 18 Noncash or Part Noncash Divestiture, Amount of Consideration Received Receivable on disposition of pharmaceutical product lines Nature Of Business, Basis Of Presentation And Principles Of Consolidation [Abstract] Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure Text Block Nature Of Business, Basis Of Presentation And Principles Of Consolidation Note Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies Text Block Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Acquisitions and strategic investments [Abstract] Acquisitions And Strategic Investments [Abstract] Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisitions And Strategic Investments Share-Based Compensation [Abstract] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments [Text Block] Share-Based Compensation Inventories [Abstract] Inventory Disclosure Text Block Inventories Property And Equipment [Abstract] Legal Entity [Axis] Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Parent Company [Member] Parent Company [Member] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property And Equipment Other Noncurrent Assets [Abstract] Other Assets Disclosure Text Block Other Noncurrent Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwil lAnd Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net Accrued Liabilities [Abstract] Other Liabilities Disclosure Text Block Accrued Liabilities Warranty Reserves [Abstract] Product Warranty Disclosure Text Block Warranty Reserves Debt [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Income Taxes [Abstract]