CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 125,701	$ 108,680	$ 228,410	$ 198,156
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	3,104	(21,492)	1,681	(16,327)
Unrealized (loss) gain on net investment hedge, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(309) and $158 in 2019 and $1,412 and $713 in 2018	(980)	4,479	500	2,263
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(14) and $114 in 2019 and $9 and $49 in 2018	(45)	32	362	150
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized (loss) gain, net of tax (benefit) expense of $(169) and $362 in 2019 and $2,161 and $1,784 in 2018	(496)	8,174	1,978	5,786
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(358) and $(607) in 2019 and $379 and $629 in 2018	(2,151)	454	(3,313)	2,039
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(2,647)	8,628	(1,335)	7,825
Other comprehensive (loss) gain, net of tax	(568)	(8,353)	1,208	(6,089)
Comprehensive income	125,133	100,327	229,618	192,067
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5)	(11)	23	14
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 125,138	$ 100,338	$ 229,595	$ 192,053