<?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-20210419.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-04-19</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-04-19</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="i0999eb42524545539a5365fb5afe6f00_D20210209-20210209">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-02-09</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-02-09</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="i1ddd61e7075140f090ec796b3ba9fd44_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="i1ddd61e7075140f090ec796b3ba9fd44_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF80L2ZyYWc6ZmYzMzlhZmYxYTg4NDIwM2I5MzRkODA0NGUxYWRkY2UvdGFibGU6MTllMGM2Njg5YjkwNDcwOGE1OTJkNDY3NjZkODlkMDgvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxOWUwYzY2ODliOTA0NzA4YTU5MmQ0Njc2NmQ4OWQwOF8yLTEtMS0xLTA_00d2451a-2c8f-4341-bb76-01c8cb5b3561">0001367644</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i1ddd61e7075140f090ec796b3ba9fd44_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF80L2ZyYWc6ZmYzMzlhZmYxYTg4NDIwM2I5MzRkODA0NGUxYWRkY2UvdGFibGU6MTllMGM2Njg5YjkwNDcwOGE1OTJkNDY3NjZkODlkMDgvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxOWUwYzY2ODliOTA0NzA4YTU5MmQ0Njc2NmQ4OWQwOF81LTEtMS0xLTA_ff556cce-f5ce-4659-b2d7-98449094be7a">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTYw_23a8a145-b601-47f1-ba3d-d9393f94e72a">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTYx_352e5604-9500-43ac-91de-5282779aed79">2021-04-19</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTYx_8a52edd8-63dd-49d6-a696-317c776349c3">2021-04-19</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTU2_be1907df-3196-402c-9dc7-9b244c2f68c3">EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGFibGU6YmUzYzY2MTNkZTRiNGJjZWFlNjliMzRiNDg2MjljZmUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiZTNjNjYxM2RlNGI0YmNlYWU2OWIzNGI0ODYyOWNmZV8wLTAtMS0xLTA_9ee7ab35-9a19-404e-a43a-00764b0d8775">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGFibGU6YmUzYzY2MTNkZTRiNGJjZWFlNjliMzRiNDg2MjljZmUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiZTNjNjYxM2RlNGI0YmNlYWU2OWIzNGI0ODYyOWNmZV8wLTItMS0xLTA_811ad7ad-f0ca-4218-8b2b-942615130e59">001-33137</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGFibGU6YmUzYzY2MTNkZTRiNGJjZWFlNjliMzRiNDg2MjljZmUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiZTNjNjYxM2RlNGI0YmNlYWU2OWIzNGI0ODYyOWNmZV8wLTQtMS0xLTA_2f9bd836-99d9-4fb7-899d-dcd85c9da4b1">14-1902018</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTY4_ff290e2f-cc6b-4c91-bbee-9d3fca54b661">400 Professional Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTU3_d74dfda5-3f5a-4634-8d4c-ea0d57dbddc8">Suite 400</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTU4_d557b6dd-a0e4-46d6-8863-1147972522c1">Gaithersburg</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTYy_24c8ca67-e7a4-4300-a5c5-d09da61d6f24">MD</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTYz_379b52f4-7006-4708-9f73-a83e86e8db81">20879</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTY0_33d0b480-ad01-4403-bab8-75e063b53cf6">240</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTY5_c0ee5735-d4a4-4d9c-8d17-1b02a24909c1">631-3200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i0999eb42524545539a5365fb5afe6f00_D20210209-20210209"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTY1_6cca3705-72a7-420d-9fed-13574172a114">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i0999eb42524545539a5365fb5afe6f00_D20210209-20210209"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTY2_a12192c6-ec77-4a09-b546-fc69650f3c66">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i0999eb42524545539a5365fb5afe6f00_D20210209-20210209"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTU5_6117f6b9-96ae-4493-bb17-306847f66015">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i0999eb42524545539a5365fb5afe6f00_D20210209-20210209"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTcw_d5d006bb-10b6-4edd-a197-97baa14c497a">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGFibGU6NGFhZTcxYjNhZjlkNDk1NjhmMzk1NGY0Y2IwNzkwNWMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0YWFlNzFiM2FmOWQ0OTU2OGYzOTU0ZjRjYjA3OTA1Y18xLTAtMS0xLTA_e2c8b747-f781-4f9c-9baa-ff37751b603d">Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGFibGU6NGFhZTcxYjNhZjlkNDk1NjhmMzk1NGY0Y2IwNzkwNWMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0YWFlNzFiM2FmOWQ0OTU2OGYzOTU0ZjRjYjA3OTA1Y18xLTEtMS0xLTA_bcbedc39-daa9-4318-a9e9-f53148c6bd20">EBS</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGFibGU6NGFhZTcxYjNhZjlkNDk1NjhmMzk1NGY0Y2IwNzkwNWMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0YWFlNzFiM2FmOWQ0OTU2OGYzOTU0ZjRjYjA3OTA1Y18xLTItMS0xLTA_9dd9c02f-fb58-41de-8ab7-0140870237f8">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i4682206889c541b6b72d605f9fbf0c71_D20210419-20210419"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkzMjg0ZmI1MmQwMjQ4Mjg5NTgyNTdjYjI4ZTc1NWYwL3NlYzo5MzI4NGZiNTJkMDI0ODI4OTU4MjU3Y2IyOGU3NTVmMF8xL2ZyYWc6ZjBiOGZlZDBmZjRkNDM5NTg2YTIwOTBhYzAxYzAyNWIvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmMGI4ZmVkMGZmNGQ0Mzk1ODZhMjA5MGFjMDFjMDI1Yl82MTY3_c1d38f7a-dbf6-4c8a-9f8b-c8c298ca9f4b">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
