Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Net Income Per Ordinary Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc	$ 116,689	$ 89,828	$ 114,502	$ 75,812	$ 82,761	$ 87,960	$ 88,114	$ 70,700	$ 396,831	$ 329,535	$ 58,387
Denominator:
Weighted-average ordinary shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share attributable to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc - basic (in shares)									60,500	61,232	59,746
Dilutive effect of employee equity incentive and purchase plans (in shares)									1,370	1,804	2,402
Dilutive effect of warrants (in shares)									0	0	466
Weighted-average ordinary shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share attributable to Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc - diluted (in shares)									61,870	63,036	62,614
Net income per ordinary share :
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.95	$ 1.49	$ 1.89	$ 1.24	$ 1.35	$ 1.43	$ 1.44	$ 1.16	$ 6.56	$ 5.38	$ 0.98
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.91	$ 1.45	$ 1.85	$ 1.21	$ 1.32	$ 1.39	$ 1.40	$ 1.12	$ 6.41	$ 5.23	$ 0.93