Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 85,407	$ 67,206	$ 154,465	$ 113,231
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	7,954	(1,278)	15,968	9,186
Unrealized (loss) gain on net investment hedge	(3,767)	1,307	(4,860)	(917)
Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $49 and $23 in 2017 and $45 and $115 in 2016	125	120	86	325
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments:
Unrealized (loss) gain, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($2,287) and ($3,199) in 2017 and $804 and ($639) in 2016	(3,848)	1,825	(5,382)	(1,441)
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax benefit (expense) of ($281) and ($681) in 2017 and $54 and ($116) in 2016	(473)	76	(1,147)	(353)
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(4,321)	1,901	(6,529)	(1,794)
Other comprehensive (loss) gain, net of tax	(9)	2,050	4,665	6,800
Comprehensive income	85,398	69,256	159,130	120,031
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	50	4	89	10
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 85,348	$ 69,252	$ 159,041	$ 120,021