Employee Benefits (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Maximum percentage of annual compensation contributed by the participant (percent)	60.00%
Accrued employee benefits	$ 12,000,000us-gaap_AccruedEmployeeBenefitsCurrent	$ 12,600,000us-gaap_AccruedEmployeeBenefitsCurrent	$ 12,000,000us-gaap_AccruedEmployeeBenefitsCurrent
Common stock shares remained available for grant (shares)	755
Matching contributions to the Vertex 401(k) Plan:
Discretionary matching contributions during the year ended December 31,		$ 5,930,000	$ 10,261,000
Shares issued during the year ended December 31		99	242
Shares issuable as of the year ended December 31		0	53

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations, excluding pension and other postretirement benefits, incurred through that date and payable for perquisites provided to employees pertaining to services received from them. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Current Liabilities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6935-107765

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)

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

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6911-107765

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period to an employee benefit plan, such as a defined contribution or defined benefit plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of shares available for grant under 401(k) retirement plan during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum percentage of compensation that can be contributed by employees into the 401(k) retirement plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents shares issuable under 401(k) retirement plan as of period end.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant