<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2021"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="ebs-20211101.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-11-01</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-11-01</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="iacaa615dccc34d22aeb9e7f8bcc97caa_D20200113-20200113">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-01-13</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-01-13</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="iacaa615dccc34d22aeb9e7f8bcc97caa_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF80L2ZyYWc6MmRmYTk3YTgxN2Y4NGVjYTg2YzM5YTcxOWU1ZGY2NjgvdGFibGU6MmQyZWY4OGUyNTlkNGM4Y2EzOTRjMDFkYWUxZDFlYzIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZDJlZjg4ZTI1OWQ0YzhjYTM5NGMwMWRhZTFkMWVjMl8yLTEtMS0xLTI3ODgx_d84d37c1-d31f-44ee-b169-fd70f1959c8c">0001367644</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="iacaa615dccc34d22aeb9e7f8bcc97caa_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF80L2ZyYWc6MmRmYTk3YTgxN2Y4NGVjYTg2YzM5YTcxOWU1ZGY2NjgvdGFibGU6MmQyZWY4OGUyNTlkNGM4Y2EzOTRjMDFkYWUxZDFlYzIvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyZDJlZjg4ZTI1OWQ0YzhjYTM5NGMwMWRhZTFkMWVjMl81LTEtMS0xLTI3ODgx_7ffd7034-e6f4-429f-a020-b6863d13c066">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjI3_d9189408-56c5-45f8-8335-c7f6e47f1d4c">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjI4_028fa967-6294-4c6a-8021-cdd65ff9aafd">2021-11-01</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjI4_03ca18b4-b756-4ba1-a137-d4175b157d22">2021-11-01</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjM2_6d43a5b2-66e3-427c-96c8-574a79e22983">EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGFibGU6OTU3MzM4ZmJiNjk0NGRiOGE0ZmI4OGNjODNkM2FkMzYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5NTczMzhmYmI2OTQ0ZGI4YTRmYjg4Y2M4M2QzYWQzNl8wLTAtMS0xLTI3ODgx_f2fa41db-68a4-40a1-894b-98fa52cbf7f0">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGFibGU6OTU3MzM4ZmJiNjk0NGRiOGE0ZmI4OGNjODNkM2FkMzYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5NTczMzhmYmI2OTQ0ZGI4YTRmYjg4Y2M4M2QzYWQzNl8wLTItMS0xLTI3ODgx_f868a87d-a978-4f8f-a345-8bf93b5624d2">001-33137</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGFibGU6OTU3MzM4ZmJiNjk0NGRiOGE0ZmI4OGNjODNkM2FkMzYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5NTczMzhmYmI2OTQ0ZGI4YTRmYjg4Y2M4M2QzYWQzNl8wLTQtMS0xLTI3ODgx_eff10695-f0e5-4f47-a2ae-38661602bb4c">14-1902018</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjI5_b1ecb643-b52b-4b62-8f6e-b6a0a2cea8e7">400 Professional Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjMw_fbb3a6af-712b-4384-84e4-2ce3f88512bd">Suite 400</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjMx_0a78a756-4d39-4a25-bcb6-779ab3ca189b">Gaithersburg</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjMy_b8379e50-d5a3-4ff1-befa-eb74c9f590a1">MD</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjM3_dc6ac2ba-d92f-4ca6-86b4-6a3713edd5bb">20879</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjM0_54676c23-0bef-4cd5-baaf-2e5cd67fed52">240</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjM1_e40f7977-4b97-4dd9-bd9f-b3da17a2ba8d">631-3200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjI1_aeba9f74-aee1-4d1b-93c1-c883f25ef081">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjIz_930d0eed-7717-4047-ae31-30ace01923fd">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjI2_2e66fb53-5699-4461-af84-06d0c6a8d504">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjMz_c4826eb8-c75e-4de6-8f46-f8c777c12cdb">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGFibGU6YTNkMmU0YTE5ZjM5NDEwZGFkNzA3ZWE5ZGMxNjYwOTcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphM2QyZTRhMTlmMzk0MTBkYWQ3MDdlYTlkYzE2NjA5N18xLTAtMS0xLTI3ODgx_aaa4ae5a-95af-4525-8af8-19cf363ffbaa">Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGFibGU6YTNkMmU0YTE5ZjM5NDEwZGFkNzA3ZWE5ZGMxNjYwOTcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphM2QyZTRhMTlmMzk0MTBkYWQ3MDdlYTlkYzE2NjA5N18xLTEtMS0xLTI3ODgx_51d70599-8413-4195-9e0c-3b56b0211cc1">EBS</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGFibGU6YTNkMmU0YTE5ZjM5NDEwZGFkNzA3ZWE5ZGMxNjYwOTcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphM2QyZTRhMTlmMzk0MTBkYWQ3MDdlYTlkYzE2NjA5N18xLTItMS0xLTI3ODgx_7d40935c-56fc-4455-8622-76ebfedfc0d1">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="ibc4464b975f64e91ac09686392428ebd_D20211101-20211101"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNiOTAyZDY3OWM2MTRiZmY4ZTgyMWVjMDUzZjkwOTI0L3NlYzpjYjkwMmQ2NzljNjE0YmZmOGU4MjFlYzA1M2Y5MDkyNF8xL2ZyYWc6OGM4MDgxOGZlNDBlNDI5YjhkNWYzMzdiNjhhZDBiOGUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo4YzgwODE4ZmU0MGU0MjliOGQ1ZjMzN2I2OGFkMGI4ZV81MjI0_949a07ad-ad19-4dc7-9344-750d589bf1ef">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
