Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Earnings Per Share Computation Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Basic net income attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders	$ 210,263	$ 247,756
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(99)	(406)
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic	$ 210,164	$ 247,350
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	253,231	246,024
Basic net income (loss) attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.83	$ 1.01
Diluted net income attributable to Vertex per common share calculation:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	$ (97)	$ (401)
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted	$ 210,166	$ 247,355
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Employee stock purchase program (in shares)	34	12
Weighted-average shares used to compute diluted net income per common share (in shares)	258,526	248,700
Diluted net income attributable to Vertex per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.81	$ 0.99
Stock options
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	3,248	2,037
Restricted stock and restricted stock units (including PSUs)
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Share-based payment arrangements (in shares)	2,013	627