Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Earnings Per Share Computation Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Basic net income attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ 207,360	$ 17,996	$ 417,623	$ 265,752
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(65)	(23)	(163)	(387)
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic	$ 207,295	$ 17,973	$ 417,460	$ 265,365
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	254,135	247,521	253,685	246,782
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.82	$ 0.07	$ 1.65	$ 1.08
Diluted net income attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	$ (64)	$ (23)	$ (160)	$ (382)
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted	$ 207,296	$ 17,973	$ 417,463	$ 265,370
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Employee stock purchase program (in shares)	2	63	18	52
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income per common share (in shares)	258,584	251,635	258,557	250,199
Diluted net income attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.07	$ 1.61	$ 1.06
Stock options
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	2,758	2,787	3,003	2,407
Restricted stock and restricted stock units (including PSUs)
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	1,689	1,264	1,851	958