Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Vertex Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ (76,148)	$ (57,543)	$ (64,931)	$ 91,590	$ 158,629	$ 221,110	$ (174,069)	$ (176,096)	$ (107,032)	$ 29,574	$ (754,626)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									0	(291)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic									(107,032)	29,283	(754,626)
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per common share (shares)	214,607	213,767	211,344	208,018	206,758	206,002	204,413	202,329	211,946	204,891	200,402
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.31)	$ 0.44	$ 0.76	$ 1.06	$ (0.85)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.50)	$ 0.14	$ (3.77)
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	(76,148)	(57,543)	(64,931)	91,590	158,629	221,110	(174,069)	(176,096)	(107,032)	29,574	(754,626)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									0	(285)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted									$ (107,032)	$ 29,289	$ (754,626)
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per common share (shares)	214,607	213,767	211,344	208,018	206,758	206,002	204,413	202,329	211,946	204,891	200,402
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Stock options (shares)									0	3,863	0
Other (shares)									0	53	0
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per common share (shares)	214,607	213,767	211,344	219,264	217,602	219,349	204,413	202,329	211,946	208,807	200,402
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.31)	$ 0.43	$ 0.74	$ 1.02	$ (0.85)	$ (0.87)	$ (0.50)	$ 0.14	$ (3.77)
Stock options
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									19,726	9,626	21,293
Convertible senior subordinated notes
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									8,192	8,192	8,192
Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									2,350	8	1,950