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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 784,535	$ 578,165	$ 2,177,491	$ 1,837,018
Cost of sales	111,255	72,874	287,250	191,067
Income from operations	205,649	(326,043)	507,428	(2,494)
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 128,746	$ (102,952)	$ 546,369	$ 162,800
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ (0.41)	$ 2.15	$ 0.66
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ (0.41)	$ 2.11	$ 0.64
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Cost of sales	$ 109,533		$ 282,303
Income from operations	201,977		498,379
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 125,074		$ 537,320
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49		$ 2.11
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48		$ 2.07
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	$ 1,722		$ 4,947
Income from operations	3,672		9,049
Net income attributable to Vertex	$ 3,672		$ 9,049
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ 0.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ 0.04
Product revenues, net
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 782,511	$ 549,642	$ 2,170,152	$ 1,544,252
Product revenues, net | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	777,117		2,156,156
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	$ 5,394		$ 13,996