Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Accumulated Deficit	Total Vertex Shareholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		253,253
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 2,042,306	$ 2,512	$ 7,157,362	$ (11,572)	$ (5,119,723)	$ 2,028,579	$ 13,727
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(4,051)			(4,051)		(4,051)
Net income	227,301				210,263	210,263	17,038
Repurchases of common stock (shares)		(67)
Repurchases of common stock	(11,251)	$ (1)	(11,250)			(11,251)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		1,682
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	89,686	$ 30	89,656			89,686
Stock-based compensation expense	78,601		78,601			78,601
Other VIE activity	(1,000)						(1,000)
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		254,868
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2018	2,430,821	$ 2,541	7,314,369	(39,743)	(4,876,111)	2,401,056	29,765
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance	9,229			(24,120)	33,349	9,229
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance	(40,310)				(40,310)	(40,310)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		255,172
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	4,435,203	$ 2,546	7,421,476	659	(2,989,478)	4,435,203	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	5,341			5,341		5,341
Net income	268,631				268,631	268,631
Repurchases of common stock (shares)		(564)
Repurchases of common stock	(103,839)	$ (6)	(103,833)			(103,839)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)		1,743
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	64,044	$ 21	64,023			64,044
Stock-based compensation expense	94,243		94,243			$ 94,243
Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		256,351
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 4,723,313	$ 2,561	$ 7,475,909	$ 6,000	$ (2,761,157)		$ 0