Restructuring Expenses - 2003 Restructuring Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended				36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2016
Restructuring activities
Restructuring expenses	$ 224	$ 8	$ 343	$ 687	$ 1,524	$ 1,826	$ 2,128	$ (3,272)	$ 1,262	$ 2,206	$ 50,925
2003 Restructuring
Restructuring activities
Liability, beginning of the period				$ 7,944				$ 11,596	7,944	11,596	19,115		$ 19,115
Cash payments									(15,841)	(14,625)	(17,494)	$ (17,816)	(226,912)
Cash received from subleases									11,892	11,089	12,912		111,601
Credit for portion of facility Vertex decided to occupy in 2005									0	0	0		(10,018)
Restructuring expenses									333	(116)	(2,937)	91,824	60,131
Liability, end of the period	$ 4,328				$ 7,944				$ 4,328	$ 7,944	$ 11,596	$ 69,526	$ 4,328