Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ 100,684	$ (102,952)	$ 17,996	$ 247,756	$ 32,945	$ (38,841)	$ (64,525)	$ (41,631)	$ 263,484	$ (112,052)	$ (556,334)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									(293)	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic									$ 263,191	$ (112,052)	$ (556,334)
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding	251,557	250,268	247,521	246,024	245,454	244,920	244,482	243,831	248,858	244,685	241,312
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.40	$ (0.41)	$ 0.07	$ 1.01	$ 0.13	$ (0.16)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.17)	$ 1.06	$ (0.46)	$ (2.31)
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted									$ 263,196	$ (112,052)	$ (556,334)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									$ (288)	$ 0	$ 0
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)									28	0	0
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per common share	256,804	250,268	251,635	248,700	247,757	244,920	244,482	243,831	253,225	244,685	241,312
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.39	$ (0.41)	$ 0.07	$ 0.99	$ 0.13	$ (0.16)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.17)	$ 1.04	$ (0.46)	$ (2.31)
Stock options
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)									2,797	0	0
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									3,554	12,642	11,145
Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units (including PSUs)
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									411	3,546	3,024
Restricted stock and restricted stock units (including PSUs)
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)									1,542	0	0