Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue Recognition
Shelf life of Remodulin and Tyvaso sold to customers, minimum	1 year
Inventory holding period of Remodulin and Tyvaso, low end of range	30 days
Inventory holding period of Remodulin and Tyvaso, high end of range	60 days
Maximum exchanges of Remodulin and Tyvaso as compared to the total volume of units sold (as a percent)	1.00%
Reduction in allowance for returns associated with goods due to change in the methodology for estimating returns	$ 3.1
Income taxes
Minimum percentage of likelihood of realization of recognized tax benefit	50.00%

Represents the reduction of allowance for returns associated with goods due to revision in the methodology for estimating returns.

No definition available.

Name:	uthr_DecreaseInAllowanceForReturnsForGoodsDueToRevisionInMethodologyForEstimatingReturns
Namespace Prefix:	uthr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the high end of the range of the inventory holding period.

No definition available.

Name:	uthr_HoldingPeriodOfInventoryByDistributorHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	uthr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the low end of the range of the inventory holding period.

No definition available.

Name:	uthr_HoldingPeriodOfInventoryByDistributorLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	uthr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the minimum percentage of likelihood of realization of recognized benefit.

No definition available.

Name:	uthr_PercentageOfLikelihoodOfRealizationOfRecognizedTaxBenefitMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	uthr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the maximum percentage of exchanges of Remodulin and Tyvaso as compared to the total volume of units sold.

No definition available.

Name:	uthr_PercentageOfRemodulinExchangesToTotalVolumeOfVialsSoldMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	uthr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	uthr_RevenueRecognitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	uthr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the minimum shelf life of a product.

No definition available.

Name:	uthr_ShelfLifeOfProductMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	uthr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration