CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 7,515	$ 7,493	$ 7,435
Operating costs, expenses and other income:
Cost of services	4,616	4,657	4,637
Selling, general and administrative	1,681	1,679	1,728
Amortization of intangible assets	72	81	94
Gain on disposition of business	(118)	(334)	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	(13)	11	(7)
Total operating costs, expenses, net	6,238	6,094	6,452
Operating income	1,277	1,399	983
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(143)	(153)	(164)
Other (expense) income, net	(48)	(143)	4
Total non-operating expenses, net	(191)	(296)	(160)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of equity method investees	1,086	1,103	823
Income tax expense	(429)	(373)	(262)
Equity in earnings of equity method investees, net of taxes	39	23	26
Income from continuing operations	696	753	587
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	5
Net income	696	753	592
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	51	44	36
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	645	709	556
Amounts attributable to Quest Diagnostics' stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	645	709	551
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	0	5
Net income attributable to Quest Diagnostics	$ 645	$ 709	$ 556
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$ 4.58	$ 4.92	$ 3.80
Income from discontinued operations	0.00	0.00	0.03
Net income	4.58	4.92	3.83
Earnings per share attributable to Quest Diagnostics' common stockholders - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	4.51	4.87	3.78
Income from discontinued operations	0.00	0.00	0.03
Net income	4.51	4.87	3.81
Dividends per common share	$ 1.65	$ 1.52	$ 1.32