Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 222,054	$ 192,135	$ 181,951
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(5,874)	(30,718)	(29,126)
Unrealized gain on net investment hedge	2,142	1,894
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $113 in 2016, ($93) in 2015 and ($63) in 2014	245	(226)	(107)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain, net of tax expense of $2,174 in 2016, $3,736 in 2015 and $4,073 in 2014	4,950	8,839	9,542
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax expense of $949 in 2016, $5,853 in 2015 and $756 in 2014	(2,251)	(13,983)	(2,002)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments	2,699	(5,143)	7,540
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(788)	(34,194)	(21,693)
Comprehensive income	221,266	157,941	160,258
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	9	57	45
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 221,257	$ 157,884	$ 160,213