IDEXX Retirement And Incentive Savings Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
401(k) Plan [Member]
Retirement And Incentive Savings Plan [Line Items]
Contribution match, maximum percent of participants' eligible compensation	4.00%
Employer contributions	$ 11.5	$ 8.8	$ 7.8
Discretionary contributions	0.0	0.0	0.0
European And Canadian Based Defined Contribution Plan [Member]
Retirement And Incentive Savings Plan [Line Items]
Employer contributions	$ 3.5	$ 3.7	$ 3.1