2.2.0.25truefalse4150 - Disclosure - Credit Agreement (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis} : Bank of America 1/1/2011 - 1/7/2011 D2011Q1_M01_BankOfAmericaMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000875320duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-01-07T00:00:00falsefalseBank of Americaus-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldivrtx_BankOfAmericaMemberus-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0$2true0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalseLine of credit facility3false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse100000000100.0falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseRevolving credit facility4false0vrtx_LineOfCreditFacilityVariableRateBasisvrtxfalsenadurationThe reference rate for the variable rate of the line of credit facility, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00LIBORfalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringThe reference rate for the variable rate of the line of credit facility, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLoans under credit agreement, interest rate base5false0vrtx_LineOfCreditDescriptionOfVariableRateBasisAlternateRatevrtxfalsenadurationThe reference rate that may be elected by the Company for the variable rate of the debt instrument, as publicly announced by...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00PRIMEfalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringThe reference rate that may be elected by the Company for the variable rate of the debt instrument, as publicly announced by Bank of America as its prime rate.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLoans under credit agreement, additional interest rate base6false0vrtx_LineOfCreditFacilitySpreadOnVariableRatesvrtxfalsenainstantThe percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the line of credit facility.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.01500.0150falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the line of credit facility.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLoans under credit agreement, interest rate above base (as a percent)7false0vrtx_CovenantToMaintainCashCashEquivalentsAndMarketableSecuritiesvrtxfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the covenant to maintain cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in domestic deposit and...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse400000000400.0falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the covenant to maintain cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in domestic deposit and securities accounts.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCovenant to maintain cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities in domestic deposit and securities accounts8false0vrtx_MarginedValueOfCashCashEquivalentsAndMarketableSecuritiesvrtxfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the margined value of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse100000000100.0falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the margined value of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseMargined value of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities17Credit Agreement (Details) (Bank of America, USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue