Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	$ 5,478	$ (5,499)

Amount of tax effect, before reclassification adjustments, on the result from the process of expressing in the reporting currency of the reporting entity those amounts that are denominated or measured in a different currency.

No definition available.

Name:	expd_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentTax
Namespace Prefix:	expd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration