Area of a real estate property.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.9)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 9

-Article 9

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 7

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the current noncurrent portion of a lease liability recorded as a result of capitalizing the landlord's costs of constructing facilities associated with building leases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_Constructionfinancingleaseobligationcurrentandnoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of leases entered by the reporting entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_LeaseAgreementNumberOfLeases
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents number of buildings under lease agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents additional period to extend term of lease agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

- Details

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Long Term Obligations Fan Pier Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Long Term Obligations Fan Pier Leases (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011 leases building sqft
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of leases				2vrtx_LeaseAgreementNumberOfLeases
Area of real estate property (in square feet)				1,100,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Lease Agreements Number of Buildings				2vrtx_LeaseAgreementsNumberOfBuildings
Optional term of lease agreement (in years)				10 years
Depreciation expense	$ 62,300,000us-gaap_Depreciation	$ 47,300,000us-gaap_Depreciation	$ 35,700,000us-gaap_Depreciation
Rental expense	38,900,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	57,700,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	57,100,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Property and equipment, net	715,812,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	696,911,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Construction financing lease obligation, current and noncurrent	473,400,000	440,900,000
Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Interest expense	60,200,000
Depreciation expense	13,400,000
Rental expense	6,500,000
Construction-in-process
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, net	$ 515,000,000	$ 503,400,000