Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Total Vertex Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			248,301
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,338,191	$ 1,156,582	$ 2,450	$ 6,506,795	$ 21,173	$ (5,373,836)	$ 181,609
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(32,745)	(32,745)			(32,745)
Net income (loss)	91,635	263,484				263,484	(171,849)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,952
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	345,673	345,616	$ 62	345,554			57
Stock-based compensation expense	295,642	295,642		295,642
VIE noncontrolling interest upon deconsolidation	3,910						3,910
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			253,253
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	2,042,306	2,028,579	$ 2,512	7,157,362	(11,572)	(5,119,723)	13,727
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	36,351	36,351			36,351
Net income (loss)	2,087,103	2,096,896				2,096,896	(9,793)
Repurchases of common stock (shares)			(2,094)
Repurchases of common stock	(350,043)	(350,043)	$ (21)	(350,022)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,013
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	288,535	288,535	$ 55	288,480
Stock-based compensation expense	325,656	325,656		325,656
VIE noncontrolling interest upon deconsolidation	(3,540)						(3,540)
Other VIE activity	(394)						(394)
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			255,172
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	4,435,203	4,435,203	$ 2,546	7,421,476	659	(2,989,478)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(2,632)	(2,632)			(2,632)
Net income (loss)	1,176,810	1,176,810				1,176,810
Repurchases of common stock (shares)			(1,074)
Repurchases of common stock	(192,015)	(192,015)	$ (10)	(192,005)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (shares)			4,895
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	345,979	345,979	$ 53	345,926
Stock-based compensation expense	362,209	362,209		362,209
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			258,993
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 6,085,244	$ 6,085,244	$ 2,589	$ 7,937,606	$ (1,973)	$ (1,852,978)	$ 0