| Income Statement [Abstract] | |
| Net sales | 1.44B |
| Cost of sales | 868.7M |
| Gross profit | 572.2M |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 283.2M |
| Amortization of intangibles and other assets | 19.5M |
| Restructuring and other special charges | 7.5M |
| Operating income | 262M |
| Other income (expenses): | |
| Interest expense | -24.5M |
| Equity method income, net | 4.3M |
| Investment income | 200K |
| Other, net | -600K |
| Earnings before income taxes | 241.4M |
| Provision for income taxes | 93.8M |
| Net earnings | 147.6M |
| Less: Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest | -400K |
| Net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | 147.2M |
| Basic earnings per common share | 1.58 |
| Diluted earnings per common share | 1.56 |