Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Earnings Per Share Computation Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ (102,952)	$ (38,841)	$ 162,800	$ (144,997)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	0	(203)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic	$ (102,952)	$ (38,841)	$ 162,597	$ (144,997)
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	250,268	244,920	247,963	244,529
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.66	$ (0.59)
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	$ 0	$ 0	$ (200)	$ 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted	$ (102,952)	$ (38,841)	$ 162,600	$ (144,997)
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Other (in shares)	0	0	228	0
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per common share (in shares)	250,268	244,920	252,095	244,529
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.16)	$ 0.64	$ (0.59)
Stock options
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	0	0	2,700	0
Restricted stock and restricted stock units
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	0	0	1,204	0