Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	$ 1,005,246,000		$ 730,294,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(308,335,000)		(296,685,000)
Total property and equipment, net	696,911,000	[1]	433,609,000	[1]
Capital leased assets, gross	76,400,000		30,100,000
Capital leases accumulated depreciation	3,800,000		1,100,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	47,300,000		35,700,000		28,900,000
Building
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	506,056,000		0
Furniture and equipment
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	190,555,000		173,766,000
Leasehold improvements
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	163,019,000		123,770,000
Software
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	102,520,000		101,276,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(500,000)
Total property and equipment, net	5,500,000
Computers
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	43,096,000		40,779,000
Construction-in-process
Property and Equipment
Total property and equipment, gross	0		290,703,000
Total property and equipment, net	$ 506,100,000		$ 290,700,000

[1] Amounts as of December 31, 2012 include the assets and liabilities of Vertex’s variable interest entity (“VIE”), Alios BioPharma, Inc. (“Alios”). The Company deconsolidated Alios as of December 31, 2013. Vertex’s interests and obligations with respect to the VIE’s assets and liabilities are limited to those accorded to Vertex in its agreement with Alios. See Note B, "Collaborative Arrangements," to these consolidated financial statements for amounts.