Acquisitions, Asset Purchases and Investments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) arrangement	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investment acquired, non-controlling interest share						$ 25,000	$ 0
Goodwill	$ 355,292	$ 359,345				355,292
International Water Testing Company | Canada
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business	12,800
Holdback	1,300					1,300
Goodwill	$ 6,700					6,700
International Water Testing Company | Canada | Technology-related intangibles
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	10 years
Net tangible assets	$ 3,400					3,400
International Water Testing Company | Canada | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life	10 years
Net tangible assets	$ 1,200					1,200
International Water Testing Company | Canada | New tangible assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets	1,500					$ 1,500
Reference Laboratory | Finland
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire business		13,400
Holdback		1,400
Goodwill		6,900
Net tangible liabilities		$ 1,700
Reference Laboratory | Finland | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life		10 years
Net tangible assets		$ 7,400
Reference Laboratory | Finland | Non-compete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life		3 years
Net tangible assets		$ 800
Reference Laboratory | Switzerland
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill					$ 1,800
Consideration transferred					5,500
Contingent payment and holdback					1,100
Liabilities					$ 600
Reference Laboratory | Switzerland | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life					9 years
Intangible assets acquired					$ 4,300
Teleradiology Business
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 3,700				3,700
Consideration transferred			5,400
Contingent consideration			300				300
Teleradiology Business | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets			$ 1,700				$ 1,700
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets			10 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets				$ 3,200
Goodwill				109,400
Consideration transferred				157,200
Contingent consideration		7,000		5,000
Change in amount of contingent consideration		2,000
Acquisition expenses		$ 2,200
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | IDEXX VetLab consumables
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill				23,400
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Rapid assay products
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill				11,100
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Reference laboratory diagnostic and consulting services
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill				27,000
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Veterinary software, services and diagnostic imaging systems
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill				47,900
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Technology-related intangibles
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets				$ 8,400
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets				6 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets				$ 32,000
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets				10 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Non-compete agreements
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets				$ 1,800
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets				5 years
EzyVet Cloud-based Veterinary | Trademarks
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net tangible assets				$ 2,400
Weighted average useful life of intangible assets				14 years
License Intellectual Property Rights
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of arrangements to license intellectual property | arrangement						2
Payments to acquire productive assets						$ 55,000
Payable to acquire productive assets	$ 25,000					25,000
Perpetual Intellectual Property License
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire productive assets						$ 10,000
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life						10 years