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	35,999			35,999		35,999
Net income (loss)	562,007				546,369	546,369	15,638
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(1,283)
Repurchases of common stock	(211,038)	$ (13)	(211,025)			(211,038)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		3,641
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	250,420	$ 52	250,368			250,420
Stock-based compensation expense	246,558		246,558			246,558
Other VIE activity	(1,000)						(1,000)
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		255,611
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	2,934,481	$ 2,551	7,443,263	307	(4,540,005)	2,906,116	28,365
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		254,883
Beginning 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
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	4,912			4,912		4,912
Net income (loss)	128,456				128,746	128,746	(290)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(515)
Repurchases of common stock	(92,004)	$ (5)	(91,999)			(92,004)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		1,243
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	92,793	$ 14	92,779			92,793
Stock-based compensation expense	85,441		85,441			85,441
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		255,611
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	2,934,481	$ 2,551	7,443,263	307	(4,540,005)	2,906,116	28,365
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance				(24,120)
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	18,188			18,188		18,188
Net income (loss)	593,576				593,576	593,576
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(931)
Repurchases of common stock	(167,954)	$ (9)	(167,945)			(167,954)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		3,024
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	144,557	$ 34	144,523			144,557
Stock-based compensation expense	270,134		270,134			270,134
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		257,265
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	5,253,394	$ 2,571	7,668,188	18,847	(2,436,212)	5,253,394	0
Balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		256,671
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	5,069,965	$ 2,565	7,564,331	(3,201)	(2,493,730)	5,069,965	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	22,048			22,048		22,048
Net income (loss)	57,518				57,518	57,518
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(71)
Repurchases of common stock	(12,105)		(12,105)			(12,105)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		665
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	30,012	$ 6	30,006			30,012
Stock-based compensation expense	85,956		85,956			85,956
Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		257,265
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 5,253,394	$ 2,571	$ 7,668,188	$ 18,847	$ (2,436,212)	$ 5,253,394	$ 0