Name:	lkq_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityContingentConsiderationLiability
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Fair value of the notes payable incurred by the acquirer to former owners of the acquirees as a result of the business combinations during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	lkq_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityNotesPayableIssued
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair Value of other purchase price obligations (non-interest bearing) incurred by the acquirer to former owners of the acquiree as a result of the business combinations during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	lkq_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityOtherPurchasePriceObligationsNonInterestBearing
Namespace Prefix:	lkq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Business Acquisition Cost of Acquired Entity Settlement of Pre-existing Balances

No definition available.

Name:	lkq_BusinessAcquisitionCostofAcquiredEntitySettlementofPreexistingBalances
Namespace Prefix:	lkq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of goodwill arising from the business combinations during the period that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

No definition available.

Name:	lkq_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillExpectedIncomeTaxDeductibleAmount
Namespace Prefix:	lkq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired in the period and purchase price allocation adjustments for acquisitions made in prior periods. The value is stated at fair value based on the purchase price allocation.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations. Additionally, this element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 30

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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For contingent consideration arrangements recognized in connection with a business combination, this element represents an estimate of the high-end of the potential range (undiscounted) of the consideration which may be paid.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsRangeOfOutcomesValueHigh
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lkq_All2014AcquisitionsExcludingKeystoneSpecialtyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lkq_All2014AcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lkq_All2015AcquisitionsMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lkq_KeystoneSpecialtyMember
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Data Type:	na
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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lkq_NetherlandsDistributorsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=lkq_AcquisitionRelatedExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=lkq_SpecialtyMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_EuropeMember
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