<?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-20220215.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2022-02-15</startDate>
            <endDate>2022-02-22</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl80L2ZyYWc6NzE2YzU1ZmYyMTlmNGUwOGJhNzA4NDZjOTZhMDgzMjQvdGFibGU6ZmFkYmVjMzk2YjhiNDExNWEzZTY1NzA5NzFiNWVkODgvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmYWRiZWMzOTZiOGI0MTE1YTNlNjU3MDk3MWI1ZWQ4OF8yLTEtMS0xLTY2MzAz_e073d5d7-5af0-4f80-977d-6d698f3084c9">0001367644</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl80L2ZyYWc6NzE2YzU1ZmYyMTlmNGUwOGJhNzA4NDZjOTZhMDgzMjQvdGFibGU6ZmFkYmVjMzk2YjhiNDExNWEzZTY1NzA5NzFiNWVkODgvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmYWRiZWMzOTZiOGI0MTE1YTNlNjU3MDk3MWI1ZWQ4OF81LTEtMS0xLTY2MzAz_01288422-8953-4984-88cc-6bfffa3320e9">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODY3_ec44b2da-2174-4400-a947-f757d418cd74">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODgw_72557299-b791-4e9c-bb59-b1b0e1ae8f50">2022-02-15</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODgw_a8083caa-3b17-46e2-9982-b14b64425ebd">2022-02-15</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODY4_bd9ec2e4-0c43-4712-9bae-583348040a19">EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGFibGU6YTA0ODMxNGE4MWFhNDY5YzhjMzNhZTRjYWY3NTc1ZDQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphMDQ4MzE0YTgxYWE0NjljOGMzM2FlNGNhZjc1NzVkNF8wLTAtMS0xLTY2MzAz_bf8ab8b3-7647-4f7c-aab4-28c76765ee1c">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGFibGU6YTA0ODMxNGE4MWFhNDY5YzhjMzNhZTRjYWY3NTc1ZDQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphMDQ4MzE0YTgxYWE0NjljOGMzM2FlNGNhZjc1NzVkNF8wLTItMS0xLTY2MzAz_b60d2276-3003-4949-b19f-531be32d555f">001-33137</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGFibGU6YTA0ODMxNGE4MWFhNDY5YzhjMzNhZTRjYWY3NTc1ZDQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphMDQ4MzE0YTgxYWE0NjljOGMzM2FlNGNhZjc1NzVkNF8wLTQtMS0xLTY2MzAz_bc8d4942-6f37-49b2-8245-d84ba6a76119">14-1902018</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODc3_1ea4c5ad-eea9-4f56-bb51-5b80d1bc3d9f">400 Professional Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODcy_95173a24-6104-41f6-b6af-904ec72bcd11">Suite 400</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODcz_18f0bb1b-64fb-44d4-89cc-5adf1eb455fd">Gaithersburg</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODc0_378df41a-a83e-4d0d-a46b-a0e87c4229a4">MD</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODc1_5bce8770-c1bc-4450-b005-d568ae2d4b2f">20879</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODgx_01cf28df-83a7-4622-a3e6-432745432248">240</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODc4_025bd08b-60bf-4cb6-ab70-0bb8179c246d">631-3200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODY5_81ee4e2e-323e-45e8-a7ff-40f2473eb053">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODcw_7e4a46fa-44ea-4be3-9259-0f105e3de2e8">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODc5_e8bf1c80-47a8-4b60-b67b-86bf05e95fa7">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODc2_220c4858-2941-4573-bd89-e308dd36bc29">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGFibGU6NTYzZWQ5MDc3ODExNGQwMjkxZjBjZTFiNWE3YWY4NTAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1NjNlZDkwNzc4MTE0ZDAyOTFmMGNlMWI1YTdhZjg1MF8xLTAtMS0xLTY2MzAz_6ad96e78-860e-4e43-8cd0-8fbe36da6a9f">Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGFibGU6NTYzZWQ5MDc3ODExNGQwMjkxZjBjZTFiNWE3YWY4NTAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1NjNlZDkwNzc4MTE0ZDAyOTFmMGNlMWI1YTdhZjg1MF8xLTEtMS0xLTY2MzAz_73dde509-56ed-49be-8582-a2f6c5b4cc04">EBS</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGFibGU6NTYzZWQ5MDc3ODExNGQwMjkxZjBjZTFiNWE3YWY4NTAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1NjNlZDkwNzc4MTE0ZDAyOTFmMGNlMWI1YTdhZjg1MF8xLTItMS0xLTY2MzAz_a347853d-2886-475e-a10d-b57159d7e5fd">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i306b38134ea84e2db00601d7ca9af68a_D20220215-20220222"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmYyODNlNjg4ZGMyYjQxZTM4NzI3OTVmNWE5NzkxZDhiL3NlYzpmMjgzZTY4OGRjMmI0MWUzODcyNzk1ZjVhOTc5MWQ4Yl8xL2ZyYWc6NTBlZGQ1NjI4ODdiNGU2YmE2MTEzZTI0ZDI4NDJkNmIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MGVkZDU2Mjg4N2I0ZTZiYTYxMTNlMjRkMjg0MmQ2Yl8yODcx_978a6af8-5509-4815-975b-efe34533a15b">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
