Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) $ 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, 2015			246,307,000
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) income	(84,031)	(112,052)				(112,052)	28,021
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			1,994,000
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			248,301,000
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 | Accounting standards update 2016-09				9,371		(9,371)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(32,745)	(32,745)			(32,745)
Net (loss) income	91,635	263,484				263,484	(171,849)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,952,000
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			253,253,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	2,042,306	2,028,579	$ 2,512	7,157,362	(11,572)	(5,119,723)	13,727
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance | Accounting standards update 2016-09	9,229	9,229			(24,120)	33,349
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	36,351	36,351			36,351
Net (loss) income	$ 2,087,103	2,096,896				2,096,896	(9,793)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	(2,093,891)		(2,094,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (350,043)	(350,043)	$ (21)	(350,022)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,013,000
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	288,535	288,535	$ 55	288,480
Stock-based compensation expense	325,656	325,656		325,656			0
VIE noncontrolling interest upon deconsolidation	(3,540)						(3,540)
Other VIE activity	(394)						(394)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			255,172,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 4,435,203	$ 4,435,203	$ 2,546	$ 7,421,476	$ 659	$ (2,989,478)	$ 0