Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Deferred Stock Units [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 9,923	$ 702,575	$ 4,688	$ 1,127,326	$ 15,443	$ (1,320,376)	$ 539,579	$ 14	$ 539,593
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	99,229,000
Comprehensive Income:
Net income (loss)				178,267			178,267	20	178,287
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax					511		511		511
Total comprehensive income							178,778	20	178,798
Repurchases of common stock						(136,808)	(136,808)		(136,808)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	931,000
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	93	38,943	(365)				38,671		38,671
Issuance of deferred stock units			142				142		142
Vesting of deferred stock units		(165)	165
Share-based compensation cost recognized		15,861					15,861		15,861
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	10,016	757,214	4,630	1,305,593	15,954	(1,457,184)	636,223	34	636,257
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	100,160,000
Comprehensive Income:
Net income (loss)				187,800			187,800	(6)	187,794
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax					(2,332)		(2,332)		(2,332)
Total comprehensive income							185,468	(6)	185,462
Repurchases of common stock						(372,194)	(372,194)		(372,194)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	1,028,000
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	103	51,861	(38)				51,926		51,926
Issuance of deferred stock units			189				189		189
Vesting of deferred stock units		(259)	259
Share-based compensation cost recognized		16,504	70				16,574		16,574
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2013	10,119	825,320	5,110	1,493,393	13,622	(1,829,378)	518,186	28	518,214
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	101,188,000								101,188,000
Comprehensive Income:
Net income (loss)				181,906			181,906	45	181,951
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax					(21,693)		(21,693)		(21,693)
Total comprehensive income							160,213	45	160,258
Repurchases of common stock						(623,888)	(623,888)		(623,888)
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, shares	759,000
Common stock issued under stock plans, including excess tax benefit, value	76	45,162					45,238		45,238
Issuance of deferred stock units			(332)				(332)		(332)
Vesting of deferred stock units		(218)	218
Share-based compensation cost recognized		18,029	70				18,099		18,099
Balance, value at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 10,195	$ 888,293	$ 5,066	$ 1,675,299	$ (8,071)	$ (2,453,266)	$ 117,516	$ 73	$ 117,589
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	101,947,000								101,947,000