Accounting Policies (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands	4 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Provision related to current period sales	$ 54,349
Credits/payments made for current period sales	(16,509)
Balance at the end of the period	37,840
Trade Allowances
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Provision related to current period sales	19,610
Credits/payments made for current period sales	(9,399)
Balance at the end of the period	10,211
Rebates, Chargebacks and Discounts
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Provision related to current period sales	28,181
Credits/payments made for current period sales	(4,945)
Balance at the end of the period	23,236
Product Returns
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Provision related to current period sales	357
Balance at the end of the period	357
Other Incentives
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Provision related to current period sales	6,201
Credits/payments made for current period sales	(2,165)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 4,036

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

Name:	us-gaap_MovementInValuationAllowancesAndReservesRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 09

-Article 12

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e24092-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the credits or payments for current period sales to allowances and reserves.

+ Details

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