Nature of Business and Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 product	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Gross product sales adjusted, related to prior period sales (percent)										0.70%	1.30%
Number of products (products)									2
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ 44,285,000	$ (124,132,000)	$ (57,165,000)	$ (308,016,000)	$ (76,148,000)	$ (57,543,000)	$ (64,931,000)	$ 91,590,000	$ (445,028,000)	$ (107,032,000)	$ 29,574,000
Basic EPS (usd per share)	$ (0.19)	$ 0.54	$ 0.26	$ 1.43	$ 0.35	$ 0.27	$ 0.31	$ (0.44)	$ 1.98	$ 0.50	$ (0.14)
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	1,470,000,000								1,470,000,000
Product revenues, net
Discount rate for payments made within 30 days (percent)									2.00%
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Beginning Balance				75,393,000				69,363,000	75,393,000	69,363,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									250,944,000	294,025,000	123,618,000
Adjustments related to prior period sales									19,738,000	5,482,000
Credits/payments made									(258,942,000)	(293,477,000)	(54,255,000)
Ending Balance	87,133,000				75,393,000				87,133,000	75,393,000	69,363,000
Trade Allowances
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Beginning Balance				5,416,000				11,162,000	5,416,000	11,162,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									31,395,000	55,913,000	38,228,000
Adjustments related to prior period sales									343,000	29,000
Credits/payments made									(35,619,000)	(61,688,000)	(27,066,000)
Ending Balance	1,535,000				5,416,000				1,535,000	5,416,000	11,162,000
Rebates, Chargebacks and Discounts
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Beginning Balance				63,560,000				52,659,000	63,560,000	52,659,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									204,459,000	216,942,000	75,145,000
Adjustments related to prior period sales									4,474,000	3,883,000
Credits/payments made									(204,249,000)	(209,924,000)	(22,486,000)
Ending Balance	68,244,000				63,560,000				68,244,000	63,560,000	52,659,000
Product Returns
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Beginning Balance				2,852,000				340,000	2,852,000	340,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									5,795,000	2,067,000	553,000
Adjustments related to prior period sales									15,149,000	1,498,000
Credits/payments made									(7,997,000)	(1,053,000)	(213,000)
Ending Balance	15,799,000				2,852,000				15,799,000	2,852,000	340,000
Other Incentives
Activity related to product revenues allowances and reserve categories
Beginning Balance				3,565,000				5,202,000	3,565,000	5,202,000	0
Provision related to current period sales									9,295,000	19,103,000	9,692,000
Adjustments related to prior period sales									(228,000)	72,000
Credits/payments made									(11,077,000)	(20,812,000)	(4,490,000)
Ending Balance	$ 1,555,000				$ 3,565,000				$ 1,555,000	$ 3,565,000	$ 5,202,000