Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Aug. 03, 2015
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	EXPEDITORS INTERNATIONAL OF WASHINGTON INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000746515
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	EXPD
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		189,159,975