Other Arrangements (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2008	Sep. 30, 2016
Sale of HIV Protease Inhibitor Royalty Stream
Gross proceeds from sale of royalty rights receivable from GlaxoSmithKline	$ 160,000,000.0
Deferred revenue royalty purchase agreement		$ 15,800,000

This element represents the carrying value of deferred revenue recorded with regard to agreement to sell rights to receive royalty payments, as on the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

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