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 Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities, Current Marketable securities Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $3,533 in 2013 and $2,632 in 2012 Accounts receivable, net of reserves of $5,128 in 2015 and $4,306 in 2014 Inventory Net Inventories Total inventories Deferred income tax assets Other current assets Total 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 Total other long-term assets, net Total long-term assets Total long-term assets Total Assets TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) Current Liabilities: Accounts Payable Current Accounts payable Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued liabilities Total accrued liabilities Current portion of line of credit Line of credit Outstanding Credit Facility balance Current portion of deferred revenue Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-Term Liabilities: Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred income tax liabilities Secured Long-term Debt, Noncurrent Carrying value of long-term debt Long-term debt 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: Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit): 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: Authorized: 120,000 shares; Issued: 102,237 and 101,947 shares in 2015 and 2014, respectively Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Deferred Stock Units Value Deferred stock units: Outstanding: 240 and 235 units in 2015 and 2014, 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 Accumulated other comprehensive loss Treasury stock, at cost: 37,631 and 36,164 shares in 2009 and 2008, respectively Treasury stock, at cost: 12,242 and 54,574 shares in 2015 and 2014, respectively Total stockholders' equity Total IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders’ equity (deficit) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance, value Balance, value Total stockholders’ equity (deficit) TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) Accounts receivable, reserves Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Balance, shares Balance, shares Common Stock, Other Shares, Outstanding 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 Impairment of Intangible Assets, Finite-lived Impairment charge 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 (loss) Net income Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net income (loss) 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 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 Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, Cumulative Translation Adjustment Foreign currency translation adjustments Gain (Loss) on Derivative Used in Net Investment Hedge, Net of Tax Unrealized gain on net investment hedge Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, Unrealized Gain On Net Investment Hedge, Net Of Tax Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of ($93), ($63) and $165 in 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Net of Tax Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net [Abstract] Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments: Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Unrealized (Loss) Gain on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments, Net of Tax Unrealized gain, net of tax expense of $3,736, $4,073 and $1,555 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment on Derivative Gains Included in Net Income, Net of Tax Gains reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments, Net of Tax Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax expense of $5,853, $756 and $679 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively Current-period oter comprehensive income (loss), unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Other comprehensive loss, net Other comprehensive loss, net of tax Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: comprehensive income (loss) 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, tax expense Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment on Derivatives Included in Net Income, Tax Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, tax expense Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) [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] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Comprehensive Income: Repurchases of common stock Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Dividend Stock split enacted through stock dividend Treasury Stock, Retired, Cost Method, Amount Shares retired, value Treasury Stock, Shares, Retired Shares retired, shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Gross Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Gross Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares Net deferred stock units which were issued, vested and settled 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. Issuance Vesting and Settlement Of Deferred Stock Units Deferred stock units activity Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Share-based compensation cost 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 Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium) Amortization on marketable securities, net Impairment of property and equipment Impairment charge Provision for uncollectible accounts Provision for deferred income taxes Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes Provision for deferred income taxes Share-based compensation expense Other 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 Accounts Payable, Trade Accounts payable Deferred revenue Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets And Liabilities Other assets and liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations 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 Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Purchase of marketable securities Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Proceeds from the sale and maturities of marketable securities Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets Proceeds from disposition of pharmaceutical product lines Proceeds from sale of equity investment Proceeds from sale of equity investment Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets Acquisitions of intangible assets Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisitions of a 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 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 (decrease) 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 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 Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies Text Block Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Acquisitions And Disposition Of Strategic Investments [Abstract] Acquisitions And Disposition Of Strategic Investments [Abstract] Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Acquisitions And Disposition of Strategic Investment Share-Based Compensation [Abstract] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments [Text Block] Share-Based Compensation Marketable Securities [Abstract] Marketable Securities Inventories [Abstract] Inventory Disclosure Text Block Inventories Property And Equipment, Net [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Property And Equipment, Net Other Current and Noncurrent Assets [Abstract] Other Assets Disclosure Text Block Other Noncurrent Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] Goodwil lAnd Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block Goodwill And Intangible Assets, Net Accrued Liabilities [Abstract] Other Liabilities Disclosure Text Block Accrued Liabilities Debt [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure Text Block Income Taxes Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Share