- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the potential milestone amount to be paid by the entity under the collaboration agreement if drug candidates are approved and commercialized.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementDevelopmentAndRegulatoryPotentialMilestonePaymentsMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Milestones paid by the entity under the collaboration agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementDevelopmentMilestonePayments
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Collaborative Arrangement Research and Development Expenses

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementResearchandDevelopmentExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Collaborative Arrangement, Right To License, Number Of Targets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementRightToLicenseNumberOfTargets
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the up-front license fee paid by the entity pursuant to a collaborative arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementScenarioAxis=srt_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	vrtx_CollaborativeArrangementsByAgreementAxis=vrtx_CTX001CoCoAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Collaborative Arrangements and Acquisitions - CRISPR Therapeutics AG (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) target	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
CRISPR Therapeutics
Collaborative Arrangement and Arrangement Other than Collaborative [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement, development and regulatory potential milestone payments maximum	$ 825.0				$ 410.0
Collaborative arrangement, up-front payment	$ 175.0						$ 75.0
CRISPR Therapeutics \| Forecast
Collaborative Arrangement and Arrangement Other than Collaborative [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement, aggregate payments		$ 30.0
Collaborative arrangement, right to exclusively license, number of targets \| target		3
CTX001 Co-Co
Collaborative Arrangement and Arrangement Other than Collaborative [Line Items]
Collaborative arrangement research and development expenses			$ 7.7	$ 5.2	$ 22.3	$ 14.1