Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Accumulated Deficit	Total Vertex Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		253,253
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 income, net of tax	31,087			31,087		31,087
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	417,623
Net income (loss)	433,551				417,623	417,623	15,928
Repurchases of common stock (shares)		(768)
Repurchases of common stock	(119,034)	$ (8)	(119,026)			(119,034)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		2,398
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	157,627	$ 38	157,589			157,627
Stock-based compensation expense	161,117		161,117			161,117
Other VIE activity	(1,000)						(1,000)
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		254,883
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	2,714,883	$ 2,542	7,357,042	(4,605)	(4,668,751)	2,686,228	28,655
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		254,868
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	2,430,821	$ 2,541	7,314,369	(39,743)	(4,876,111)	2,401,056	29,765
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	35,138			35,138		35,138
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	207,360
Net income (loss)	206,250				207,360	207,360	(1,110)
Repurchases of common stock (shares)		(701)
Repurchases of common stock	(107,783)	$ (7)	(107,776)			(107,783)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		716
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	67,941	$ 8	67,933			67,941
Stock-based compensation expense	82,516		82,516			82,516
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		254,883
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	2,714,883	$ 2,542	7,357,042	(4,605)	(4,668,751)	2,686,228	28,655
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance	9,229			(24,120)	33,349	9,229
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance	(40,310)				(40,310)	(40,310)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		255,172
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	4,435,203	$ 2,546	7,421,476	659	(2,989,478)	4,435,203	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(3,860)			(3,860)		(3,860)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	536,058
Net income (loss)	536,058				536,058	536,058
Repurchases of common stock (shares)		(860)
Repurchases of common stock	(155,849)	$ (9)	(155,840)			(155,849)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		2,359
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	114,545	$ 28	114,517			114,545
Stock-based compensation expense	184,178		184,178			184,178
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		256,671
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	5,069,965	$ 2,565	7,564,331	(3,201)	(2,493,730)		0
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		256,351
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	4,723,313	$ 2,561	7,475,909	6,000	(2,761,157)	4,723,313	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	(9,201)			(9,201)		(9,201)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	267,427
Net income (loss)	267,427					267,427
Repurchases of common stock (shares)		(296)
Repurchases of common stock	(52,010)	$ (3)	(52,007)			(52,010)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		616
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	50,501	$ 7	50,494			50,501
Stock-based compensation expense	89,935		89,935			$ 89,935
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		256,671
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 5,069,965	$ 2,565	$ 7,564,331	$ (3,201)	$ (2,493,730)		$ 0