Condensed consolidating financial statements - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	$ 2,734,065	$ 2,718,403	$ 5,369,217	$ 5,309,477
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(10,249)	(49,406)	(15,712)	(23,861)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	2,723,816	2,668,997	5,353,505	5,285,616
Other revenues	118,889	217,956	232,312	450,781
Total revenues	2,842,705	2,886,953	5,585,817	5,736,397
Operating expenses	2,380,819	2,448,761	4,783,424	4,887,519
Operating income	461,886	438,192	802,393	848,878
Debt expense	(143,826)	(119,692)	(275,345)	(233,208)
Other income, net	5,643	1,994	12,583	6,576
Income tax expense	75,938	83,868	132,684	154,605
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income from continuing operations	247,765	236,626	406,947	467,641
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax	79,392	69,696	109,697	63,910
Net income	327,157	306,322	516,644	531,551
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(53,606)	(39,046)	(93,804)	(85,589)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	273,551	267,276	422,840	445,962
Consolidating adjustments
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	(61,870)	(49,788)	(122,568)	(97,303)
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	0	0	0
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	(61,870)	(49,788)	(122,568)	(97,303)
Other revenues	(240,671)	(244,764)	(462,844)	(483,397)
Total revenues	(302,541)	(294,552)	(585,412)	(580,700)
Operating expenses	(302,541)	(294,552)	(585,412)	(580,700)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Debt expense	65,049	62,759	130,323	123,149
Other income, net	(108,090)	(110,646)	(223,055)	(218,372)
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	(438,621)	(393,921)	(580,154)	(561,090)
Net income from continuing operations	(481,662)	(441,808)	(672,886)	(656,313)
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax	43,041	47,887	92,732	95,223
Net income	(438,621)	(393,921)	(580,154)	(561,090)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(53,606)	(39,046)	(93,804)	(85,589)
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	(492,227)	(432,967)	(673,958)	(646,679)
DaVita Inc. | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	0	0	0	0
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	0	0	0	0
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	0	0	0	0
Other revenues	207,299	205,317	396,135	400,882
Total revenues	207,299	205,317	396,135	400,882
Operating expenses	160,464	145,649	304,123	279,005
Operating income	46,835	59,668	92,012	121,877
Debt expense	(144,896)	(120,814)	(278,491)	(235,148)
Other income, net	102,059	105,344	212,257	209,425
Income tax expense	627	13,257	7,653	27,644
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	270,180	236,335	404,715	377,452
Net income from continuing operations	273,551	267,276	422,840	445,962
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income	273,551	267,276	422,840	445,962
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	273,551	267,276	422,840	445,962
Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	1,781,066	1,831,545	3,558,312	3,621,733
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(7,246)	(27,159)	(11,216)	(17,531)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	1,773,820	1,804,386	3,547,096	3,604,202
Other revenues	115,226	214,266	226,367	419,226
Total revenues	1,889,046	2,018,652	3,773,463	4,023,428
Operating expenses	1,673,331	1,850,377	3,333,784	3,641,471
Operating income	215,715	168,275	439,679	381,957
Debt expense	(52,762)	(52,363)	(105,241)	(104,560)
Other income, net	2,716	2,856	5,312	5,379
Income tax expense	63,930	40,019	110,474	88,962
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	168,441	157,586	175,439	183,638
Net income from continuing operations	270,180	236,335	404,715	377,452
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income	270,180	236,335	404,715	377,452
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	270,180	236,335	404,715	377,452
Non- Guarantor subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]
Dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	1,014,869	936,646	1,933,473	1,785,047
Less: Provision for uncollectible accounts	(3,003)	(22,247)	(4,496)	(6,330)
Net dialysis and related lab patient service revenues	1,011,866	914,399	1,928,977	1,778,717
Other revenues	37,035	43,137	72,654	114,070
Total revenues	1,048,901	957,536	2,001,631	1,892,787
Operating expenses	849,565	747,287	1,730,929	1,547,743
Operating income	199,336	210,249	270,702	345,044
Debt expense	(11,217)	(9,274)	(21,936)	(16,649)
Other income, net	8,958	4,440	18,069	10,144
Income tax expense	11,381	30,592	14,557	37,999
Equity earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income from continuing operations	185,696	174,823	252,278	300,540
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax	36,351	21,809	16,965	(31,313)
Net income	222,047	196,632	269,243	269,227
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to DaVita Inc.	$ 222,047	$ 196,632	$ 269,243	$ 269,227