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	(46,302)			(46,302)		(46,302)
Net income	(10,550)				162,800	162,800	(173,350)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		4,382,000
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	299,039	$ 50	298,956			299,006	33
Stock-based compensation expense	218,991		218,991			218,991
VIE noncontrolling interest upon deconsolidation	3,910						3,910
Other VIE activity	(35)						(35)
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		252,683,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	1,803,244	$ 2,500	7,034,113	(25,129)	(5,220,407)	1,791,077	12,167
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	35,999			35,999		35,999
Net income	$ 562,007				546,369	546,369	15,638
Repurchases of common stock (shares)	(1,282,683)	(1,283,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (211,038)	$ (13)	(211,025)			(211,038)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		3,641,000
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	250,420	$ 52	250,368			250,420	0
Stock-based compensation expense	246,558		246,558			246,558
Other VIE activity	(1,000)						(1,000)
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		255,611,000
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 2,934,481	$ 2,551	$ 7,443,263	$ 307	$ (4,540,005)	$ 2,906,116	$ 28,365