Acquisitions and Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2018
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 359,345					$ 239,724	$ 359,345	$ 243,347	$ 214,489
Noncontrolling interest, remaining percentage purchased from noncontrolling owners	5.00%
Noncontrolling interest, purchase of Interests	$ 1,000						990
Reference Laboratory | Finland
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business	13,400
Holdback	1,400						1,400
Goodwill	5,300						5,300
Net tangible liabilities	100						100
Reference Laboratory | Finland | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 7,400						7,400
Intangible assets useful life	10 years
Reference Laboratory | Finland | Noncompete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 800						800
Intangible assets useful life	3 years
Reference Laboratory | Switzerland
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill				$ 1,800
Purchase price of acquired assets				5,500
Contingent payment and holdback				1,100
Liabilities				600
Reference Laboratory | Switzerland | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets				$ 4,300
Intangible assets useful life				9 years
Teleradiology Business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 3,700
Purchase price of acquired assets		5,400
Contingent payment		300
Teleradiology Business | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets		$ 1,700
Intangible assets useful life		10 years
ezyVet
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			$ 3,200
Goodwill			109,400
Purchase price of acquired assets			157,200
Contingent payment	$ 7,000		5,000				$ 7,000
Change in amount of contingent payable	2,000
Acquisition expenses	$ 2,200
ezyVet | IDEXX VetLab consumables
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			23,400
ezyVet | Reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			27,000
ezyVet | Rapid assay products
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			11,100
ezyVet | Veterinary software, services and diagnostic imaging systems
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			47,900
ezyVet | Noncompete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			$ 1,800
Intangible assets useful life			5 years
ezyVet | Customer-related intangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			$ 32,000
Intangible assets useful life			10 years
ezyVet | Technology-based intangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			$ 8,400
Intangible assets useful life			6 years
ezyVet | Trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets			$ 2,400
Intangible assets useful life			14 years
Reference laboratory in Mid-West, U.S.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets					$ 200
Goodwill					22,900
Purchase price of acquired assets						$ 50,000
Reference laboratory in Mid-West, U.S. | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets					$ 26,900
Intangible assets useful life					13 years 9 months 18 days