Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36407
Entity Registrant Name	ALNYLAM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	77-0602661
Entity Address, Address Line One	675 West Kendall Street,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Henri A. Termeer Square
Entity Address, City or Town	Cambridge
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	02142
City Area Code	617
Local Phone Number	551-8200
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	ALNY
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		111,489,744
Entity Central Index Key	0001178670
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false