Segment Reporting (Summary Of Segment Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 417,550	$ 382,477
Income (loss) from operations	73,793	72,803
Interest expense, net	(7,484)	(5,879)
Income before provision for income taxes	66,309	66,924
Provision for income taxes	20,284	20,346
Net income	46,025	46,578
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6	(16)
Net income attributable to IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. stockholders	46,019	46,594
Depreciation and amortization	18,546	16,154
Expenditures for long-lived assets	21,906	23,017
CAG Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	357,639	324,531
Income (loss) from operations	61,378	53,518
Water Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	23,552	21,698
Income (loss) from operations	9,679	9,361
LPD Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	30,856	31,270
Income (loss) from operations	4,570	6,956
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	5,503	4,978
Income (loss) from operations	(837)	(322)
Unallocated Amounts [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from operations	$ (997)	$ 3,290

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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