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

Number of shares authorized for issuance under share-based payment arrangement.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Per share weighted-average price paid for shares purchased on open market for issuance under share-based payment arrangement.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5047-113901

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerShareWeightedAveragePriceOfSharesPurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of shares issued during the period as a result of an employee stock purchase plan.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
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Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the percentage of the fair market value of the entity's common stock on the first day of the applicable offering period or last day of the applicable purchase period that eligible employees may purchase shares of the entity's common stock under the employee stock purchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	vrtx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEligibleEmployeePurchasePricePercentageOfFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Duration of Purchase Period

No definition available.

Name:	vrtx_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardDurationofPurchasePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Purchase Periods

No definition available.

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

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Offering Period

No definition available.