CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 679,089	$ 744,844	$ 582,131
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(25,692)	(26,731)	15,151
Defined benefit plans, net of tax expense of $(613) in 2022	(3,282)	0	0
Reclassification adjustment for defined benefit plans included in net income, net of tax of $99 in 2022	506	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on Euro-denominated notes, net of tax expense (benefit) of $1,411 in 2022, $2,011 in 2021 and $(2,325) in 2020	4,525	6,404	(7,378)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(14) in 2022, $46 in 2021 and $(120) in 2020	(46)	146	(382)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency exchange contracts, net of tax expense (benefit) of $5,954 in 2022, $2,133 in 2021 and $(2,013) in 2020	14,851	9,139	(8,527)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cross currency swaps, net of tax expense (benefit) of $1,190 in 2022, $1,699 in 2021 and $(1,774) in 2020	3,817	5,399	(5,626)
Reclassification adjustment for (gain) loss included in net income, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(6,742) in 2022, $1,347 in 2021 and $(158) in 2020	(18,991)	5,774	(671)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments	(323)	20,312	(14,824)
Other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax	(24,312)	131	(7,433)
Comprehensive income	654,777	744,975	574,698
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(1)	355
Comprehensive income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.	$ 654,777	$ 744,976	$ 574,343