Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Earnings Per Share Computation Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Basic net income attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ 268,631	$ 210,263
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	(99)
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic	$ 268,631	$ 210,164
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	255,695	253,231
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 0.83
Diluted net income attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	$ 0	$ (97)
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted	$ 268,631	$ 210,166
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Employee stock purchase program (in shares)	25	34
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income per common share (in shares)	260,175	258,526
Diluted net income attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03	$ 0.81
Stock options
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	2,585	3,248
Restricted stock and restricted stock units (including PSUs)
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	1,870	2,013