Accounts receivable Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accumulated other comprehensive loss Acquisition of Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Additional paid-in capital Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) [Abstract] Earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share) Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Cash paid during the year for interest Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accrued compensation Income taxes Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts payable Accrued expenses and other liabilities Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock, shares issued (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 36,002,698 and 35,011,423 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively Cost of product sales Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Current liabilities: Long-term indebtedness, current portion Deferred income taxes Deferred tax assets, net Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred revenue, current portion Deferred revenue, net of current portion Earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Provision for impairment of long-lived assets Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) [Abstract] Income taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income tax receivable, net Goodwill Interest expense Interest Expense Inventories Inventory, Net Investments Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Indebtedness under line of credit Long-term indebtedness, net of current portion Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries Variable interest entities Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure [Text Block] Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash flows from financing activities: Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash flows from investing activities: Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash flows from operating activities: Restricted cash release (deposit) Net income attributable to Emergent BioSolutions Inc. Net income Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Total other income (expense) Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other income (expense): Non-cash development expenses from joint venture Other Noncash Expense Note receivable Income from operations Operating Income (Loss) Foreign currency translation Other income (expense), net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) 401(k) savings plan Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) Preferred stock, share outstanding (in shares) Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Proceed from maturities of investments Issuance of common stock subject to exercise of stock options Property, plant and equipment, net Purchases of property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Accounts receivable Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Related party transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Restricted cash Restructuring Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Retained earnings Contracts and grants Total revenues Revenue, Net Revenues: Product sales Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Investments Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities, Current Segment information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Selling, general and administrative Summary of significant accounting policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders equity [Abstract] Stockholders equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Cash paid during the year for income taxes Total current assets Assets, Current Current assets: Weighted-average number of shares - diluted (shares) Weighted-average number of shares - basic (in shares) Common Stock [Member] Property, plant and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Research and development Total assets Assets Interest income Property, plant and equipment [Abstract] Other liabilities Deferred tax assets, net Statement [Table] ASSETS Statement [Line Items] Fair value measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Quarterly financial data Quarterly Financial Information [Text Block] Supplemental information on non-cash investing and financing activities: Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Deferred revenue Other assets Operating expense: Income before provision for income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Total Emergent BioSolutions Inc. stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Assets held for sale Provision for income taxes Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Purchases of property, plant and equipment unpaid at year end Issuance of stock for the Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. acquisition Exercise of stock options Issuance of stock for the Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. acquisition (in shares) Exercise of stock options (in shares) Collaboration Agreements Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure [Text Block] Excess tax benefits from exercises of stock options Net income Net income Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Depreciation and amortization Comprehensive income Stockholders' equity: Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiary [Member] Acquisition of Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Leases [Abstract] Commitments and contingencies Leases Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block] Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities: Nature of the business and organization Nature of Operations [Text Block] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Accrued compensation Employee-related Liabilities, Current Stock-based compensation expense Prepaid expenses and other current assets Investments [Abstract] Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] Accounts receivable [Abstract] Acquisition of Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [Abstract] Litigation Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Income taxes [Abstract] Fair value measurements [Abstract] Inventories [Abstract] Repayment/(issuance) of note receivable Increase (Decrease) in Collateral Held under Securities Lending 401(k) savings plan [Abstract] Quarterly financial data [Abstract] Long-term debt Debt and Capital Leases Disclosures [Text Block] Restructuring [Abstract] Summary of significant accounting policies [Abstract] Variable interest entities [Abstract] Segment information [Abstract] Related party transactions [Abstract] Issuance of common stock to acquire Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity [Text Block] Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type In-process research and development Carrying amount of purchased research and development assets acquired in a business combination that have an indefinite life until completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. Contingent Value Rights Current Portion Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of liabilities incurred and payable to former shareholders and stock option holders of Trubion Pharmaceuticals for certain developmental, regulatory or commercial milestones. Contingent value rights Contingent value rights, current portion Principal Payments On Long Term Indebtness And Line Of Credit The cash outflow for long-term indebtnesses and line of credit initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Principal payments on long-term indebtedness and line of credit Proceeds From Borrowings On Long Term Indebtness And Line Of Credit The cash inflow from a contractual arrangement with the lender, including line of credit and long-term indebtednesses, under which borrowings can be made up to a specific amount at any point in time with maturities due beyond one year or the operating cycle, if longer. Proceeds from borrowings on long-term indebtedness and line of credit Proceeds from borrowing on long-term indebtedness and line of credit Litigation [Abstract] Impairment of Accrued Interest on Note Receivable The charge against earnings to reduce the carrying value of accrued interest on a note receivable. Provision for impairment of accrued interest on note receivable Nature Of Operations [Abstract] Nature of the business and organization [Abstract] Debt And Capital Leases Disclosures [Abstract] Long-term debt [Abstract] Line of credit [Text Block] The disclosure of contractual agreements with lenders, including letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Line of credit Line of Credit Disclosure [Abstract] Line of credit [Abstract] Collaboration Agreements Disclosure [Abstract] Collaboration Agreements [Abstract] Assets held for sale [Text Block] The disclosure for assets held for sale. Disclosure may include the description of the facts and circumstances leading to the expected disposal, manner and timing of disposal, the carrying value of the assets held for sale, impairments, if any and other pertinent information as necessary. Assets held for sale Assets Held For Sale Disclosure [Abstract] Assets held for sale [Abstract] Noncontrolling Interest, Non-cash development expenses from joint venture Increase in noncontrolling interest balance because of non-cash development expenses from joint venture. Non-cash development expenses from joint venture Provision For Fair Value Of Contingent Value Rights Provision for fair value of contingent value rights Fair value measurement of contingent value rights granted to former shareholders and stock option holders of Trubion Pharmaceuticals for certain developmental, regulatory or commercial milestones. Payment Attributed To Contingent Value Rights The cash outflow for contignent value rights. Payment Attributed to contingent value rights Earnings per share [Abstract] Earnings per share Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Abstract] Intangible Assets and Goodwill Contingent Value Rights Net Of Current Portion Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of liabilities incurred and payable to former shareholders and stock option holders of Trubion Pharmaceuticals for certain developmental, regulatory or commercial milestones. Contingent value rights, net of current portion Purchase of investments Purchase of investments Notes Recievable Notes to Financial Statements (Abstract) Notes Receivable [Text Block] Notes Receivable