Area of a real estate property.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The credit-adjusted risk-free discount rate applied to the undiscounted amount of projected cash inflows and/or outflows to arrive at the present value of the lease restructuring liability recorded as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_LeaseRestructuringLiabilityAccrualDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total length of time of a real estate lease, stated in years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_LeaseTerm
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total area of space available to occupy at a specific site under a lease agreement that was initially vacated under the restructuring plan, stated in square feet.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_LeasedFacilityArea
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for lease operating expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredLeaseOperatingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for lease restructuring expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrtx_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredLeaseRestructuringExpense
Namespace Prefix:	vrtx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=vrtx_A2003RestructuringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_FacilityClosingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Restructuring Expenses - 2003 Kendall Restructuring (Details) - 2003 Restructuring ft² in Thousands, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2003 USD ($) ft²	Jan. 01, 2006 ft²
Restructuring and Related Activities [Line Items]
Discount rate, lease restructuring liability (percent)		10.00%
Lease restructuring expense \| $		$ 78.7
Lease operating expense \| $		$ 6.0
Facility Closing
Restructuring and Related Activities [Line Items]
Leased area (in square feet) \| ft²		290
Lease term (in years)	15 years
Area of real estate property (in square feet) \| ft²			120