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

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
Namespace Prefix:	lkq_
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 debt recognized as of the acquisition date.

No definition available.

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

The amount of deferred tax assets or liabilities recognized as of the acquisition date.

No definition available.

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

The amount of income taxes receivable recognized as of the acquisition date.

No definition available.

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

Business Combinations, Recognized Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net of Cash Acquired

No definition available.

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

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the best estimate at the acquisition date of the contractual cash flows not expected to be collected, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquiredReceivablesEstimatedUncollectible
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

For receivables acquired in a business combination, excluding certain loans and debt securities acquired in a transfer (as defined), this element represents the gross contractual amounts receivable, by major class of receivable, such as loans, direct finance leases (as defined), and any other class of receivables.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquiredReceivablesGrossContractualAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for costs that provide economic benefits in future periods, and amount of other assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsPrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of liabilities due within one year or within the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956791&loc=d3e4845-128472

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 37

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744172&loc=d3e2207-128464

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of inventory recognized as of the acquisition date.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInventory
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of other liabilities due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilitiesOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of other assets expected to be realized or consumed after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The amount of property, plant, and equipment recognized as of the acquisition date.

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lkq_All2014AcquisitionsExcludingKeystoneSpecialtyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lkq_All2014AcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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