Credit Agreement (Details) (Bank of America, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended
Jan. 07, 2011
Bank of America
Line of credit facility
Revolving credit facility	$ 100.0
Loans under credit agreement, interest rate base	LIBOR
Loans under credit agreement, additional interest rate base	PRIME
Loans under credit agreement, interest rate above base (as a percent)	1.50%
Covenant to maintain cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in domestic deposit and securities accounts	400.0
Margined value of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	$ 100.0

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ Details

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

- 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.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the covenant to maintain cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in domestic deposit and securities accounts.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reference rate that may be elected by the Company for the variable rate of the debt instrument, as publicly announced by Bank of America as its prime rate.

+ Details

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

- Definition

This element represents the margined value of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_MarginedValueOfCashCashEquivalentsAndMarketableSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant