Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Total Vertex Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance	$ 0		$ 9,371		$ (9,371)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		248,301,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	1,338,191	$ 2,450	6,506,795	$ 21,173	(5,373,836)	$ 1,156,582	$ 181,609
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(5,148)			(5,148)		(5,148)
Net income	249,548				247,756	247,756	1,792
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		590,000
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	31,028	$ 9	31,019			31,028
Stock-based compensation expense	69,790		69,790			69,790
Other VIE activity	616						616
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2017		248,891,000
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2017	1,682,793	$ 2,459	6,616,975	16,025	(5,135,451)	1,500,008	182,785
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance	9,229			(24,120)	33,349	9,229
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		253,253,000
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	2,042,306	$ 2,512	7,157,362	(11,572)	(5,119,723)	2,028,579	13,727
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(4,051)			(4,051)		(4,051)
Net income	$ 227,301				210,263	210,263	17,038
Repurchases of common stock (shares)	(67,084)	(67,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (11,251)	$ (1)	(11,250)			(11,251)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		1,682,000
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	89,686	$ 30	89,656			89,686
Stock-based compensation expense	78,601		78,601			78,601
Other VIE activity	1,000						1,000
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		254,868,000
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	$ 2,430,821	$ 2,541	$ 7,314,369	$ (39,743)	$ (4,876,111)	$ 2,401,056	$ 29,765