Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Vertex Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	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	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ 44,285	$ (124,132)	$ (57,165)	$ (308,016)	$ (76,148)	$ (57,543)	$ (64,931)	$ 91,590	$ (445,028)	$ (107,032)	$ 29,574
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									0	0	(291)
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic									(445,028)	(107,032)	29,283
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per common share (shares)	231,264	230,505	222,053	215,421	214,607	213,767	211,344	208,018	224,906	211,946	204,891
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (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
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders	44,285	(124,132)	(57,165)	(308,016)	(76,148)	(57,543)	(64,931)	91,590	(445,028)	(107,032)	29,574
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									0	0	(285)
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted									$ (445,028)	$ (107,032)	$ 29,289
Weighted-average shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per common share (shares)	231,264	230,505	222,053	215,421	214,607	213,767	211,344	208,018	224,906	211,946	204,891
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Stock options (shares)									0	0	3,863
Other (shares)									0	0	53
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per common share (shares)	235,717	230,505	222,053	215,421	214,607	213,767	211,344	219,264	224,906	211,946	208,807
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (usd per share)	$ 0.19	$ (0.54)	$ (0.26)	$ (1.43)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.31)	$ 0.43	$ (1.98)	$ (0.50)	$ 0.14
Stock options
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									15,729	19,726	9,626
Convertible senior subordinated notes
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									0	8,192	8,192
Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									2,165	2,350	8