Name:	dgx_DebtInstrumentFairValueInExcessOfCarryingValueOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	dgx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value inputs, probability of occurrence

No definition available.

Name:	dgx_Fairvalueinputsprobabilityofoccurrence
Namespace Prefix:	dgx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of equity interest expected to be divested

No definition available.

Name:	dgx_PercentageOfEquityInterestExpectedToBeDivested
Namespace Prefix:	dgx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Vesting Period for Derivative Instrument

No definition available.

Name:	dgx_VestingPeriodforDerivativeInstrument
Namespace Prefix:	dgx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph b

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911338&loc=d3e6819-128478

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 25

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13476-108611

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bbb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	dgx_TriggeringEventAxis=dgx_TobePaidin2016BasedonRevenueTargetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dgx_StewardHealthCareSystemsLLCMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dgx_SummitHealthInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dgx_UMassDignityandATNCombinedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_OptionIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxis=us-gaap_CallOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: