XML 79 R47.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Description of Business - Additional Information (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 Location Country Employee
Product Information [Line Items] |
Number of employees | 10,300
Number of locations in which company operates | 77
Number of countries in which company operates | 38
United States |
Product Information [Line Items] |
Percentage of company revenue | 43.60%
Europe |
Product Information [Line Items] |
Percentage of company revenue | 45.40%
Rest of World |
Product Information [Line Items] |
Percentage of company revenue | 11.00%

X
- Definition Number of persons employed by the Entity + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dei_EntityNumberOfEmployees
Namespace Prefix: | dei_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of Locations + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | iclr_NumberOfLocations
Namespace Prefix: | iclr_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Percentage of Company Revenue + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | iclr_PercentageOfCompanyRevenue
Namespace Prefix: | iclr_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of countries in which the entity operates as of balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfCountriesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProductInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration