Litigation (Details) - Pending Litigation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Litigation
Maximum period for which the FDA is automatically precluded from approving Watson's ANDA	30 months
Maximum period for which the FDA is automatically precluded from approving Actavis' ANDA	30 months
Number of days for supply of treprostinil under FDA approval	2 days

Represents the maximum period of time from receipt of a Notice letter corresponding to a Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for which the FDA is precluded from approving the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA), under the Hatch-Waxman Act.

No definition available.

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