Nature of Business and Accounting Policies - Impact of Adopted to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Sep. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Mar. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Sep. 30, 2018
Jun. 30, 2018
Mar. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Jan. 01, 2019
Jan. 01, 2018
Jan. 01, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance                       $ (40,310) $ 9,229 $ 0
Product revenues, net $ 1,413,265 $ 949,828 $ 941,293 $ 858,435 $ 870,106 $ 784,535 $ 752,157 $ 640,799 $ 4,162,821 $ 3,047,597 $ 2,488,652      
Cost of sales 185,012 131,914 135,740 95,092 122,289 111,255 104,382 71,613 547,758 409,539 275,119      
Income from operations 551,465 99,333 269,960 276,808 127,722 205,649 172,878 128,901 1,197,566 635,150 123,243      
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders $ 583,234 $ 57,518 $ 267,427 $ 268,631 $ 1,550,527 $ 128,746 $ 207,360 $ 210,263 $ 1,176,810 $ 2,096,896 $ 263,484      
Net income:                            
Basic (usd per share) $ 2.26 $ 0.22 $ 1.04 $ 1.05 $ 6.08 $ 0.51 $ 0.82 $ 0.83 $ 4.58 $ 8.24 $ 1.06      
Diluted (usd per share) $ 2.23 $ 0.22 $ 1.03 $ 1.03 $ 5.97 $ 0.50 $ 0.80 $ 0.81 $ 4.51 $ 8.09 $ 1.04      
Product                            
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Product revenues, net $ 1,413,265 $ 949,828 $ 940,380 $ 857,253 $ 868,173 $ 782,511 $ 749,912 $ 637,729 $ 4,160,726 $ 3,038,325 $ 2,165,480      
Balances without Adoption of ASC 606                            
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Cost of sales                   402,925        
Income from operations                   622,923        
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders                   $ 2,084,669        
Net income:                            
Basic (usd per share)                   $ 8.20        
Diluted (usd per share)                   $ 8.04        
Balances without Adoption of ASC 606 | Product                            
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Product revenues, net                   $ 3,019,484        
Effect of Change Higher/(Lower) | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09                            
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Cost of sales                   6,614        
Income from operations                   12,227        
Net income attributable to Vertex common shareholders                   $ 12,227        
Net income:                            
Basic (usd per share)                   $ 0.04        
Diluted (usd per share)                   $ 0.05        
Effect of Change Higher/(Lower) | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Product                            
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Product revenues, net                   $ 18,841        
Accumulated Deficit                            
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance                       $ (40,310) 33,349 $ (9,371)
Accumulated Deficit | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09                            
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]                            
Cumulative effect adjustment for adoption of new accounting guidance                         $ 8,300