For transactions that are recognized separately from the acquisition of assets and assumptions of liabilities in the business combination, such as related to pre-existing relationships with the acquiree, this element represents the disclosure of the amount of acquisition related costs which have been expensed.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fair value of the consideration from the Company to VIE that does not constitute consideration transferred pursuant to ASC 805, Business Combinations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_BusinessCombinationConsiderationVIE
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Collaborative Arrangement, Additional Maximum Milestone Payments Based on Regulatory Approval

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementAdditionalMaximumMilestonePaymentsBasedonRegulatoryApproval
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Collaborative Arrangement, Development and Commercialization Rights Potential Maximum Milestone Payments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementDevelopmentandCommercializationRightsPotentialMaximumMilestonePayments
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the funding under collaborative agreement 2016 amendment for research and development.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementResearchDevelopmentFunding
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Milestones To Be Achieved In Order For Milestone Payment To Be Recorded As An Intangible Asset

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_NumberOfMilestonesToBeAchievedInOrderForMilestonePaymentToBeRecordedAsAnIntangibleAsset
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

Collaborative Arrangements and Acquisitions - Concert Pharmaceuticals (Details) - Concert Pharmaceuticals $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017 USD ($) milestone	Jul. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement, development and commercialization rights potential maximum milestone payments		$ 160.0
Collaborative arrangement, additional maximum milestone payments based on regulatory approval		$ 90.0
Collaborative funding			$ 160.0	$ 160.0
Collaborative arrangement, purchase price	$ 165.1
Collaborative arrangement, transaction costs	$ 5.1
Number of milestones to be achieved in order for milestone payment to be recorded as an intangible asset \| milestone	1