Segment Reporting (Summary of Segment Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 841,661			$ 810,421			$ 2,538,756	$ 2,414,270
Income from operations	244,828			225,962			672,238	732,837
Interest expense, net	(10,645)			(7,012)			(25,481)	(22,066)
Income before provision for income taxes	234,183			218,950			646,757	710,771
Provision for income taxes	53,245			43,772			139,875	128,698
Net income	180,938	$ 131,979	$ 193,965	175,178	$ 202,606	$ 204,289	506,882	582,073
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0			(57)			0	(1)
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	180,938			175,235			506,882	582,074
CAG
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	764,990			732,495			2,310,261	2,170,857
Income from operations	221,454			201,947			601,105	649,892
Water
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	40,840			38,143			116,406	109,374
Income from operations	19,924			17,599			54,498	49,599
LPD
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	28,452			29,126			89,211	101,920
Income from operations	4,480			3,600			14,447	24,276
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	7,379			10,657			22,878	32,119
Income from operations	$ (1,030)			$ 2,816			$ 2,188	$ 9,070