Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ 1,550,527	$ 128,746	$ 207,360	$ 210,263	$ 100,684	$ (102,952)	$ 17,996	$ 247,756	$ 2,096,896	$ 263,484	$ (112,052)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									(501)	(293)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic									$ 2,096,395	$ 263,191	$ (112,052)
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding	254,868	254,905	254,135	253,231	251,557	250,268	247,521	246,024	254,292	248,858	244,685
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ 6.08	$ 0.51	$ 0.82	$ 0.83	$ 0.40	$ (0.41)	$ 0.07	$ 1.01	$ 8.24	$ 1.06	$ (0.46)
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted									$ 2,096,404	$ 263,196	$ (112,052)
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									$ (492)	$ (288)	$ 0
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)									17	28	0
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per common share	259,812	259,788	258,584	258,526	256,804	250,268	251,635	248,700	259,185	253,225	244,685
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ 5.97	$ 0.50	$ 0.80	$ 0.81	$ 0.39	$ (0.41)	$ 0.07	$ 0.99	$ 8.09	$ 1.04	$ (0.46)
Stock options
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)									2,913	2,797	0
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									2,217	3,554	12,642
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)									5	411	3,546
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)									1,963	1,542	0