<?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-20210429.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-04-29</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-04-29</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="i5cea65c4ab33430ca5285fee243e9ffc_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="i5cea65c4ab33430ca5285fee243e9ffc_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF80L2ZyYWc6ODc0YjhiZDk1YTUwNDg5YmI1YzdlOGM3OTc3Zjk4ZmIvdGFibGU6MWI0YWU5NTE1NzA4NGMzZGE5NzRjZmMwMjJkZDlhYmEvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYjRhZTk1MTU3MDg0YzNkYTk3NGNmYzAyMmRkOWFiYV8yLTEtMS0xLTA_89861985-c7ff-4721-9143-d7202c7a57e2">0001367644</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i5cea65c4ab33430ca5285fee243e9ffc_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF80L2ZyYWc6ODc0YjhiZDk1YTUwNDg5YmI1YzdlOGM3OTc3Zjk4ZmIvdGFibGU6MWI0YWU5NTE1NzA4NGMzZGE5NzRjZmMwMjJkZDlhYmEvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYjRhZTk1MTU3MDg0YzNkYTk3NGNmYzAyMmRkOWFiYV81LTEtMS0xLTA_e42ef09a-0926-44c1-b4d9-c2da18ebf1e7">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjU3_c6917fea-a257-4543-81f9-26cd611f105a">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjU4_5ada451f-0581-4663-8d5f-f856a18b56fe">2021-04-29</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjU4_ddd505da-ed68-4465-a35c-de25cdf195fb">2021-04-29</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjY3_8646eed8-f34d-418e-971c-aa6445f5bbcd">EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGFibGU6YjI1MDY4NjI5NTU1NGZiOTgyNzljYThjMjVhNjg3NGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiMjUwNjg2Mjk1NTU0ZmI5ODI3OWNhOGMyNWE2ODc0Y18wLTAtMS0xLTA_4919e5d4-48c6-4847-85e4-ed0ba83d9fba">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGFibGU6YjI1MDY4NjI5NTU1NGZiOTgyNzljYThjMjVhNjg3NGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiMjUwNjg2Mjk1NTU0ZmI5ODI3OWNhOGMyNWE2ODc0Y18wLTItMS0xLTA_6b53705b-81ec-4e87-8876-0dd1fba052dc">001-33137</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGFibGU6YjI1MDY4NjI5NTU1NGZiOTgyNzljYThjMjVhNjg3NGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpiMjUwNjg2Mjk1NTU0ZmI5ODI3OWNhOGMyNWE2ODc0Y18wLTQtMS0xLTA_2fddb50b-cea0-4dfe-92c3-cc4c89e2008e">14-1902018</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjU0_4875f08e-9701-46b1-acf4-b5fd01ef841f">400 Professional Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjY4_cd4041a6-8a34-43ae-9f55-f1c8769d978d">Suite 400</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjYz_07383c88-3a53-4b6d-ac72-03f628fc531b">Gaithersburg</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjU1_01788548-6ce7-48fb-9a6f-2373b5e1c3e3">MD</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjU2_89dfb3ce-c867-46e7-8a87-5bc7684620df">20879</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjY0_963bcc6e-0978-4f0b-a92e-596888d95ee7">240</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjYw_9558bdb5-e48f-4172-b821-464114285b7c">631-3200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjYx_64b5d1d0-bc71-4b95-8ba2-ccd1f8a657d8">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjY1_11dd8c10-aa41-42d9-a7ae-058564c6a118">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjU5_866cf1b2-76b3-4c87-804f-f92e4a4e1674">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjY2_edb47081-2bc3-46b7-95ca-c0635c41ad2a">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGFibGU6MmNhMzY3Y2JmY2Y3NDEzZDhjYzcwYTU5ODY2MjFiN2MvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyY2EzNjdjYmZjZjc0MTNkOGNjNzBhNTk4NjYyMWI3Y18xLTAtMS0xLTA_39909eb8-491f-4299-b81e-07b2c5af7366">Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGFibGU6MmNhMzY3Y2JmY2Y3NDEzZDhjYzcwYTU5ODY2MjFiN2MvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyY2EzNjdjYmZjZjc0MTNkOGNjNzBhNTk4NjYyMWI3Y18xLTEtMS0xLTA_7e131b6c-43f4-4a4a-940b-5867d9836617">EBS</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGFibGU6MmNhMzY3Y2JmY2Y3NDEzZDhjYzcwYTU5ODY2MjFiN2MvdGFibGVyYW5nZToyY2EzNjdjYmZjZjc0MTNkOGNjNzBhNTk4NjYyMWI3Y18xLTItMS0xLTA_011106b8-827d-46d3-bf8e-30d942d4fde8">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i731621be10d046a186b830c0ca31b84e_D20210429-20210429"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjkwYjI5ZTQ4N2U3MjRhNDE5NWRmNTYwNmEyZmNiNjU0L3NlYzo5MGIyOWU0ODdlNzI0YTQxOTVkZjU2MDZhMmZjYjY1NF8xL2ZyYWc6NjhjMzU2ZWFjNmRiNDM2ZDhjN2YyN2UyNWU2OTJjN2UvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo2OGMzNTZlYWM2ZGI0MzZkOGM3ZjI3ZTI1ZTY5MmM3ZV8yNjYy_8676c2e2-04d1-4b4a-bd0d-9ba1ff4754be">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
