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Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]        
Unrealized gains included in earnings $ 0biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainIncludedInEarnings $ 2.9biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainIncludedInEarnings    
Unrealized losses included in earnings (2.4)biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLossIncludedInEarnings (1.2)biib_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetLossIncludedInEarnings    
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Venture capital investments        
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]        
Fair value, beginning of period     14.5us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
21.9us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
Fair value, end of period $ 12.1us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
$ 23.6us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
$ 14.5us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
$ 21.9us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= biib_VentureCapitalInvestmentsMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember