Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Total Vertex Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			241,764
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,096,183	$ 1,075,006	$ 2,385	$ 5,777,154	$ 917	$ (4,705,450)	$ 21,177
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	907	907			907
Net loss	(588,181)	(556,334)				(556,334)	(31,847)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,543
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	185,290	185,276	$ 42	185,234			14
Stock-based compensation expense	235,112	235,112		235,112			0
Noncontrolling interest upon consolidation	164,317						164,317
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			246,307
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	1,093,628	939,967	$ 2,427	6,197,500	1,824	(5,261,784)	153,661
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	19,349	19,349			19,349
Net loss	(84,031)	(112,052)				(112,052)	28,021
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			1,994
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	68,006	68,006	$ 23	67,983			0
Stock-based compensation expense	241,239	241,312		241,312			(73)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			248,301
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	1,338,191	1,156,582	$ 2,450	6,506,795	21,173	(5,373,836)	181,609
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance	0
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance | Accounting standards update 2016-09, forfeiture rate component				9,371		(9,371)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(32,745)	(32,745)			(32,745)
Net loss	91,635	263,484				263,484	(171,849)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,952
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	345,673	345,616	$ 62	345,554			57
Stock-based compensation expense	295,642	295,642		295,642			0
VIE noncontrolling interest upon deconsolidation	3,910						3,910
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			253,253
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 2,042,306	$ 2,028,579	$ 2,512	$ 7,157,362	$ (11,572)	$ (5,119,723)	$ 13,727