Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Oct. 31, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2022
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-26770
Entity Registrant Name	NOVAVAX, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-2816046
Entity Address, Address Line One	21 Firstfield Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Gaithersburg
Entity Address, Country	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	20878
City Area Code	(240)
Local Phone Number	268-2000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	NVAX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		78,503,952
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001000694
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31