Business Segment and Geographical Information - Schedule of Distribution of Income from Operations by Geographical Area (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	$ 442,846	$ 1,032,384	$ 904,664
Amortization of intangible assets	(227,200)	(350,300)	(459,900)
Goodwill impairment	(364,248)	0	0
Impairment of non-financial assets	(101,027)	0	0
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	1,135,341	1,382,675	1,364,518
Amortization of intangible assets	(227,220)	(350,291)	(459,854)
Ireland
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	691,431	850,525	840,070
Rest of Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	158,929	215,566	152,726
U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	206,639	245,925	311,209
Rest of World
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from operations	$ 78,342	$ 70,659	$ 60,513

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 230
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-28

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 18
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476153/220-40-55-18

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 11
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476153/220-40-55-11

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 24
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476153/220-40-55-24

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476148/220-40-50-12

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-SubTopic 30
-Topic 350
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482640/350-30-55-40

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482686/350-30-45-2

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476148/220-40-50-6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of impairment loss from asset representing future economic benefit arising from other asset acquired in business combination or from joint venture formation or both, that is not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 230
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-28

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 24
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482548/350-20-55-24

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-6

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 100
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482078/820-10-55-100

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482573/350-20-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482598/350-20-45-2

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479581/805-30-50-4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476153/220-40-55-4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 14
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476153/220-40-55-14

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-22

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 30
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-30

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (i)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482964/270-10-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (ee)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 8: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-32

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 31
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482810/280-10-50-31

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_IE
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=iclr_RestOfEuropeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=iclr_RestOfWorldMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: