QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Summary of unaudited quarterly data
Revenues	$ 2,953.4	$ 2,928.5	$ 2,881.7	$ 2,791.2	$ 2,787.5	$ 2,831.3	$ 2,866.3	$ 2,848.3	$ 11,554.8	$ 11,333.4	$ 10,308.0
Gross profit	820.7	817.3	824.8	789.7	772.4	789.9	835.1	779.0	3,252.5	3,176.4	3,091.8
Operating Income (Loss)	336.4	339.9	335.7	318.2	307.7	343.4	369.2	305.4	1,330.2	1,325.7	1,305.2
Net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$ 227.1	$ 220.7	$ 190.4	$ 185.6	$ 157.9	$ 318.8	$ 233.8	$ 173.2	$ 823.8	$ 883.7	$ 1,227.1
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.34	$ 2.26	$ 1.94	$ 1.88	$ 1.58	$ 3.14	$ 2.29	$ 1.70	$ 8.42	$ 8.71	$ 11.99
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.32	$ 2.25	$ 1.93	$ 1.86	$ 1.56	$ 3.10	$ 2.27	$ 1.67	$ 8.35	$ 8.61	$ 11.81