Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 18, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-33137
Entity Registrant Name	EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	14-1902018
Entity Address, Address Line One	400 Professional Drive, Suite 400
Entity Address, City or Town	Gaithersburg
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	20879
City Area Code	240
Local Phone Number	631-3200
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	EBS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
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
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 3.4
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		50,501,421
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders scheduled to be held in May 2022, which is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the registrant's fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, are incorporated by reference into Part II, Item 5. and Part III of this annual report on Form 10-K. With the exception of the portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders that are expressly incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K, such proxy statement shall not be deemed filed as part of this annual report on Form 10-K.
Entity Central Index Key	0001367644
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY