Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Level 3
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Term loan fair value	$ 296,500
Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	587,836	$ 665,383
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Total financial liabilities	(7,405)	(901)
Recurring basis \| Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents	110,696	199,507
Recurring basis \| Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		34,889
Marketable securities	164,853	99,123
Recurring basis \| U.S. Treasury securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities	33,142
Recurring basis \| Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		85,994
Marketable securities	131,900	87,162
Recurring basis \| Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		11,533
Marketable securities	135,675	141,409
Recurring basis \| Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	275,738	372,663
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Total financial liabilities	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 1 \| Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents	110,696	199,507
Recurring basis \| Level 1 \| Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		0
Marketable securities	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 1 \| U.S. Treasury securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities	33,142
Recurring basis \| Level 1 \| Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		85,994
Marketable securities	131,900	87,162
Recurring basis \| Level 1 \| Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		0
Marketable securities	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	312,098	292,720
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Total financial liabilities	(7,405)	(901)
Recurring basis \| Level 2 \| Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 2 \| Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		34,889
Marketable securities	164,853	99,123
Recurring basis \| Level 2 \| U.S. Treasury securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities	0
Recurring basis \| Level 2 \| Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		0
Marketable securities	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 2 \| Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		11,533
Marketable securities	135,675	141,409
Recurring basis \| Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Total financial assets	0	0
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Total financial liabilities	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 3 \| Money market funds
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 3 \| Commercial paper
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		0
Marketable securities	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 3 \| U.S. Treasury securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Marketable securities	0
Recurring basis \| Level 3 \| Government-sponsored enterprise securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		0
Marketable securities	0	0
Recurring basis \| Level 3 \| Corporate debt securities
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Cash equivalents		0
Marketable securities	0	0
Prepaid and other current assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	9,966	5,161
Prepaid and other current assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0	0
Prepaid and other current assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	9,966	5,161
Prepaid and other current assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0	0
Other Assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	1,604	605
Other Assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0	0
Other Assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	1,604	605
Other Assets \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0	0
Other liabilities, current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	(7,317)
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability current		(769)
Other liabilities, current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability current		0
Other liabilities, current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	(7,317)
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability current		(769)
Other liabilities, current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability current		0
Other liabilities, excluding current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	(88)
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability noncurrent		(132)
Other liabilities, excluding current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 1
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability noncurrent		0
Other liabilities, excluding current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 2
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	(88)
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability noncurrent		(132)
Other liabilities, excluding current portion \| Foreign currency forward contracts \| Recurring basis \| Level 3
Financial assets carried at fair value:
Foreign currency forward contracts	0
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Derivative liability noncurrent		$ 0
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary \| BioAxone Biosciences Inc \| Level 1
Financial instruments carried at fair value (liability position):
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 70,200

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Cash Equivalents
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, expected to be settled within one year or normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

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 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13495-108611

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset, expected to be settled after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13495-108611

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value of financial obligations, including, but not limited to, debt instruments, derivative liabilities, federal funds purchased and sold under agreements to repurchase, securities loaned or sold under agreements to repurchase, financial instruments sold not yet purchased, guarantees, line of credit, loans and notes payable, servicing liability, and trading liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4B
-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeDerivativeAtFairValueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of contractual obligation to pay money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Total debt and equity financial instruments including: (1) securities held-to-maturity, (2) trading securities, and (3) securities available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MarketableSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Cash and Cash Equivalents

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountCashandCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_USGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_PrepaidExpensesAndOtherCurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementsByAgreementAxis=vrtx_BioAxoneBiosciencesIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: