Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Total Vertex Shareholders’ Equity	Total Vertex Shareholders’ Equity Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017					253,253
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 2,042,306	$ 9,229	$ 2,028,579	$ 9,229	$ 2,512	$ 7,157,362	$ (11,572)	$ (24,120)	$ (5,119,723)	$ 33,349	$ 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 (in shares)					(2,094)
Repurchases of common stock	(350,043)		(350,043)		$ (21)	(350,022)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (in 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)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018					255,172
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	4,435,203	$ (40,310)	4,435,203	$ (40,310)	$ 2,546	7,421,476	659	$ (24,120)	(2,989,478)	$ (40,310)	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 (in shares)					(1,046)
Repurchases of common stock	(186,020)		(186,020)		$ (10)	(186,010)
Common stock withheld for employee tax obligations (in shares)					(28)
Common stock withheld for employee tax obligations	(5,995)		(5,995)			(5,995)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (in 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
Ending balance (in 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(66,507)		(66,507)				(66,507)
Net income (loss)	2,711,647		2,711,647						2,711,647
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)					(2,405)
Repurchases of common stock	(539,136)		(539,136)		$ (24)	(539,112)
Common stock withheld for employee tax obligations (in shares)					(804)
Common stock withheld for employee tax obligations	(200,271)		(200,271)		$ (8)	(200,263)
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans (in shares)					4,106
Issuance of common stock under benefit plans	262,768		262,768		$ 42	262,726
Stock-based compensation expense	433,070		433,070			433,070
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020					259,890
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 8,686,815		$ 8,686,815		$ 2,599	$ 7,894,027	$ (68,480)		$ 858,669		$ 0