Summary of significant accounting policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Summary of significant accounting policies [Abstract]
Summary of significant accounting policies	1. Summary of significant accounting policies Basis of presentation and consolidation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. ("Emergent" or the "Company") and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC. In the opinion of the Company's management, any adjustments contained in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2018. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for an entire year. Significant accounting policies During the three months ended March 31, 2018, there have been no significant changes to the Company's summary of significant accounting policies contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC, except for the new revenue recognition standard the Company adopted effective January 1, 2018. See Note 2. "Revenue recognition" for further details. Recently issued accounting standards ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU No. 2016-02"). ASU No. 2016-02 increases transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements for both lessees and lessors. The standard will be effective January 1, 2019 for the Company, with early adoption permitted. The standard will be applied using a modified retrospective approach to the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU No. 2016-15"). ASU No. 2016-15 eliminates the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments for debt prepayments or extinguishment costs, the maturing of a zero-coupon bond, the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination, proceeds from insurance settlements, distributions from certain equity method investees and beneficial interests obtained in a financial asset securitization. ASU No. 2016-15 designates the appropriate cash flow classification, including requirements to allocate certain components of these cash receipts and payments among operating, investing and financing activities. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018, and has determined the impact of ASU No. 2016-15 on its condensed consolidated financial statements will be related to the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination. ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash (Topic 230): Statement of Cash Flows In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash (Topic 230): Statement of Cash Flows ("ASU No. 2016-18"). ASU No. 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of period and end of period balances on the statement of cash flows upon adoption of this standard. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. Restricted cash primarily consist of collateralized cash for a standby letter of credit and guarantee arrangement with a bank. ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting ("ASU No. 2017-09"). ASU No. 2017-09 clarifies which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements. There are no other recently issued accounting pronouncements that are expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

1. Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of presentation and consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. ("Emergent" or the "Company") and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC.

In the opinion of the Company's management, any adjustments contained in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2018. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for an entire year.

Significant accounting policies

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, there have been no significant changes to the Company's summary of significant accounting policies contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC, except for the new revenue recognition standard the Company adopted effective January 1, 2018. See Note 2. "Revenue recognition" for further details.

Recently issued accounting standards

ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU No. 2016-02"). ASU No. 2016-02 increases transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements for both lessees and lessors. The standard will be effective January 1, 2019 for the Company, with early adoption permitted. The standard will be applied using a modified retrospective approach to the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the expected impact to its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU No. 2016-15"). ASU No. 2016-15 eliminates the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments for debt prepayments or extinguishment costs, the maturing of a zero-coupon bond, the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination, proceeds from insurance settlements, distributions from certain equity method investees and beneficial interests obtained in a financial asset securitization. ASU No. 2016-15 designates the appropriate cash flow classification, including requirements to allocate certain components of these cash receipts and payments among operating, investing and financing activities. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018, and has determined the impact of ASU No. 2016-15 on its condensed consolidated financial statements will be related to the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination.

ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash (Topic 230): Statement of Cash Flows

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash (Topic 230): Statement of Cash Flows ("ASU No. 2016-18"). ASU No. 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents will be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning of period and end of period balances on the statement of cash flows upon adoption of this standard. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018. Restricted cash primarily consist of collateralized cash for a standby letter of credit and guarantee arrangement with a bank.

ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting ("ASU No. 2017-09"). ASU No. 2017-09 clarifies which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018, which did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

There are no other recently issued accounting pronouncements that are expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.