The portion of the carrying value of convertible subordinated debt as of the balance sheet date that is scheduled to be repaid after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle if longer. This form of debt can be exchanged for a specified amount of another security, typically the entity's common stock, at the option of the issuer or the holder, and places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleSubordinatedDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The ratio applied to the debt for purposes of determining the number of shares of the equity security into which the debt will be converted.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow paid to third parties in connection with debt origination, which will be amortized over the remaining maturity period of the associated long-term debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-13

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 18

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 19
-Subparagraph b

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stated interest rate of the subordinated debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-BRD
-Chapter 4
-Paragraph 80
-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 9
-IssueDate 2006-05-01

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-BRD
-Chapter 4
-Paragraph 08
-IssueDate 2006-05-01

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the condition for provisional redemption, if percentage is in excess of conversion price for common stock that is traded for at least 20 days within 30 consecutive trading days.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_ConditionForProvisionalRedemptionIfPercentageInExcessOfConversionPriceForCommonStockTradedForAtleast20DaysWithin30ConsecutiveTradingDays
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days the closing price of the Company's common stock must exceed the applicable conversion price by 130% in order for the Company to, at its option, redeem all or part of the convertible notes.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_ConditionForProvisionalRedemptionMinimumNumberOfDaysWithin30ConsecutiveTradingDaysTheClosingPriceNeedsToExceedTheConversionPrice
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of consecutive trading days during which the closing price of the Company's common stock must exceed the applicable conversion price by 130% for at least 20 days in order for the Company to, at its option, redeem all or part of the convertible notes.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_ConditionForProvisionalRedemptionTotalConsecutiveTradingDaysDuringWhichTheClosingPriceMustExceedTheConversionPriceForAtLeast20TradingDaysForProvisionalRedemption
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The unit of measurement in dollars which establishes the exchange rate of the debt instrument into common shares.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_DebtExchangeRatePrincipalAmountUsedInCalculation
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in a debt instrument.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_DebtInstrumentsConvertibleConversionPrice
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the interest of the specified number of years which the entity would make interest payments for the notes being provisionally redeemed.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_InterestPaymentsOnNotesProvisionallyRedeemedEqualToInterestOfSpecifiedNumberOfYears
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow paid to third parties in connection with debt origination (excluding any Underwriting Discounts), which will be amortized over the remaining maturity period of the associated long-term debt.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of principal amount used in computation of provisional redemption price.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountUsedInComputationOfProvisionalRedemptionPrice
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (Details) (USD $)			1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010 2015 Notes	Jun. 30, 2011 2015 Notes	Sep. 28, 2010 2015 Notes
Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes and Collaborator Loan
Convertible senior subordinated notes (due 2015)	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.35%	3.35%
Net proceeds from convertible debt offering			391,600,000
Underwriting discount			8,000,000
Debt issuance costs			400,000
Conversion price (in dollars per share)			$ 48.83
Original conversion rate, number of shares to be issued per $1000 of principal (in shares)			20.4794
Convertible debt principal amount, basis for exchange			$ 1,000
Percent closing price needs to exceed the conversion price for at least 20 trading days within 30 consecutive trading days for provisional redemption (as a percent)					130.00%
Minimum number of days within 30 consecutive trading days the closing price needs to exceed the conversion price for provisional redemption (in days)					20
Total consecutive trading days during which the closing price must exceed the conversion price for at least 20 trading days for provisional redemption (in days)					30
Percentage of principal amount used in computation of provisional redemption price (as a percent)					100.00%
Total interest payments on notes being provisionally redeemed equal to interest for specified number of years (in years)				3