<?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/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="ebs-20210520.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-05-20</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-05-20</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="ic48162d9263a4ff69d74e39dc4f3908f_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="ic48162d9263a4ff69d74e39dc4f3908f_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV80L2ZyYWc6ODUyYmNhZGZhYzA2NDZhNmEyZmRlMDc0MjViZjA1NTIvdGFibGU6NjU2N2I1NzM2ZjQyNDgyOThlZDAwZGQzMjYwZjUxMDUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2NTY3YjU3MzZmNDI0ODI5OGVkMDBkZDMyNjBmNTEwNV8yLTEtMS0xLTA_facffe42-671f-4bda-8125-1fc037293fc5">0001367644</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="ic48162d9263a4ff69d74e39dc4f3908f_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV80L2ZyYWc6ODUyYmNhZGZhYzA2NDZhNmEyZmRlMDc0MjViZjA1NTIvdGFibGU6NjU2N2I1NzM2ZjQyNDgyOThlZDAwZGQzMjYwZjUxMDUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2NTY3YjU3MzZmNDI0ODI5OGVkMDBkZDMyNjBmNTEwNV81LTEtMS0xLTA_79f74648-510b-42f7-b2f3-9a6e18e8bcce">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQ1_acb2ecd3-a974-4757-b99e-c9b2638eca74">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzM0_45719c57-dee7-432d-94a0-e32ff6310f66">2021-05-20</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzM0_d3240e1a-98a0-464d-99da-b9e6a2a189cc">2021-05-20</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQy_e80512ea-3170-4dff-9295-266e1ad26250">EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGFibGU6NzVhOWUyN2MyMzIzNGQ3OWIzZjBkZTY0YWE0YzZhZjkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3NWE5ZTI3YzIzMjM0ZDc5YjNmMGRlNjRhYTRjNmFmOV8wLTAtMS0xLTA_6e07a8ae-5251-4ae1-b37a-d3f6dee4ecf8">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGFibGU6NzVhOWUyN2MyMzIzNGQ3OWIzZjBkZTY0YWE0YzZhZjkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3NWE5ZTI3YzIzMjM0ZDc5YjNmMGRlNjRhYTRjNmFmOV8wLTItMS0xLTA_c3f33583-d188-434f-91bf-ba4bd10aa59b">001-33137</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGFibGU6NzVhOWUyN2MyMzIzNGQ3OWIzZjBkZTY0YWE0YzZhZjkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3NWE5ZTI3YzIzMjM0ZDc5YjNmMGRlNjRhYTRjNmFmOV8wLTQtMS0xLTA_ca33b716-7acc-4f30-a788-060ae75c6b49">14-1902018</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQz_1128dfb1-badc-4b0c-a40e-df287af845ac">400 Professional Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzM1_e98be0e7-6de0-491d-9b9c-d856c0994c99">Suite 400</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzM2_b484c1c6-edaa-4eef-bed3-597ecb89a77c">Gaithersburg</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzMz_041bad56-21f4-4dc0-87c4-c30465762472">MD</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzM3_df3e8bb8-ca50-449f-93fb-dfac92e1e406">20879</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzM4_3f81ce28-2973-4f4e-948e-b16d2bd96cdf">240</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQ3_2fbf5b00-308e-4761-81bd-22d1c34a2332">631-3200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQ2_fee72be8-805d-45a3-98da-6c16e3e6d040">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzM5_b4416efc-f8c6-419d-8aa4-a3836e9cb06f">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQ0_38767d2d-39db-4315-90ac-c70355639586">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQw_dc60df8e-11b5-4aa5-a56f-bad6c9800769">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGFibGU6ZGYzNmM1YzZmMjgyNDcwZDhhOWIzOWZkNjg0MDQzNzEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkZjM2YzVjNmYyODI0NzBkOGE5YjM5ZmQ2ODQwNDM3MV8xLTAtMS0xLTA_49500bc3-201c-4d80-823b-30c55b48bbca">Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGFibGU6ZGYzNmM1YzZmMjgyNDcwZDhhOWIzOWZkNjg0MDQzNzEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkZjM2YzVjNmYyODI0NzBkOGE5YjM5ZmQ2ODQwNDM3MV8xLTEtMS0xLTA_0a9cf370-089a-45a7-bc5c-442ff46b685d">EBS</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGFibGU6ZGYzNmM1YzZmMjgyNDcwZDhhOWIzOWZkNjg0MDQzNzEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpkZjM2YzVjNmYyODI0NzBkOGE5YjM5ZmQ2ODQwNDM3MV8xLTItMS0xLTA_c2f5a59e-0fb9-4ea8-bc08-13e5f386fcd0">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="if3aafa3d443e41a792eadbfdef9d62f4_D20210520-20210520"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmZjMDg3YWI2OTliMTQ1OTNiM2VlM2M2NjNhMGU2NDBhL3NlYzpmYzA4N2FiNjk5YjE0NTkzYjNlZTNjNjYzYTBlNjQwYV8xL2ZyYWc6YWZjOTI2YTJmOTAzNDUxNWJkNjRiNGU0ZWUyYTMxNDAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphZmM5MjZhMmY5MDM0NTE1YmQ2NGI0ZTRlZTJhMzE0MF8yMzQx_7043c2ee-5ce3-4583-88e0-b4c8911c2e4b">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
