Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies - Schedule of new accounting pronouncements and changes in accounting principles (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 752,157	$ 544,135	$ 1,392,956	$ 1,258,853
Cost of sales	104,382	71,205	175,995	118,193
Income from operations	172,878	52,707	301,779	323,549
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 207,360	$ 17,996	$ 417,623	$ 265,752
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.82	$ 0.07	$ 1.65	$ 1.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 0.07	$ 1.61	$ 1.06
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Cost of sales	$ 102,688		$ 172,769
Income from operations	170,635		296,403
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 205,117		$ 412,247
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.81		$ 1.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79		$ 1.59
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Cost of sales	$ 1,694		$ 3,226
Income from operations	2,243		5,376
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 2,243		$ 5,376
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.02
Product revenues, net
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 749,912	$ 513,988	$ 1,387,641	$ 994,610
Product revenues, net | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	745,975		1,379,039
Product revenues, net | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,937		$ 8,602