<?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-20210512.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001367644</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-05-12</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-05-12</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="i703250cd86af43968f74bc2684520618_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="i703250cd86af43968f74bc2684520618_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y180L2ZyYWc6NmRmMzQ2N2M2NmUwNDFkNGFhY2M4YWZjZjliODU4MTQvdGFibGU6Zjg0ZjUzY2ZiNDRmNGRjN2JiMmY4YWQ5MmYxMzI1NTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmODRmNTNjZmI0NGY0ZGM3YmIyZjhhZDkyZjEzMjU1Ml8yLTEtMS0xLTA_efd41f2e-262f-4506-95af-5402704c2a46">0001367644</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i703250cd86af43968f74bc2684520618_D20200113-20200113"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y180L2ZyYWc6NmRmMzQ2N2M2NmUwNDFkNGFhY2M4YWZjZjliODU4MTQvdGFibGU6Zjg0ZjUzY2ZiNDRmNGRjN2JiMmY4YWQ5MmYxMzI1NTIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpmODRmNTNjZmI0NGY0ZGM3YmIyZjhhZDkyZjEzMjU1Ml81LTEtMS0xLTA_dde9bcca-bece-4c58-b421-79243dba8d37">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQw_c87329c3-35cc-4588-9bd6-869e4ec3630a">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQx_00de379f-e3af-4044-a37b-27644723e49b">2021-05-12</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQ0_2022eaae-8e62-44ce-a2fa-e488839511b7">EMERGENT BIOSOLUTIONS INC.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGFibGU6MTZkYWI3ZjdhNzcwNDA5YThhMzViOWI2YjY0YWZmMWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxNmRhYjdmN2E3NzA0MDlhOGEzNWI5YjZiNjRhZmYxZV8wLTAtMS0xLTA_7a32265b-eee0-4cb5-81f7-82b9a242bc06">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGFibGU6MTZkYWI3ZjdhNzcwNDA5YThhMzViOWI2YjY0YWZmMWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxNmRhYjdmN2E3NzA0MDlhOGEzNWI5YjZiNjRhZmYxZV8wLTItMS0xLTA_7f56f543-f407-4bed-a26d-2e0c77e45b7c">001-33137</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGFibGU6MTZkYWI3ZjdhNzcwNDA5YThhMzViOWI2YjY0YWZmMWUvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxNmRhYjdmN2E3NzA0MDlhOGEzNWI5YjZiNjRhZmYxZV8wLTQtMS0xLTA_0eefe48f-18d8-439b-b182-db428dc59b46">14-1902018</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQy_30365026-1d9f-4468-a57e-81098cb4fac1">400 Professional Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQ2_f6110c0c-0900-4ead-b882-3546be791389">Suite 400</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzUw_441b921e-e928-4770-b61a-cf695bee935a">Gaithersburg</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzUx_6e5321ce-b775-4be2-b987-7be71d69cca8">MD</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQz_e7b4167a-f360-41ee-b2e8-7da7a9c4e711">20879</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzUy_9f0e9929-a15b-4da0-bd46-ca9f46786458">240</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzUz_c07088a4-0923-42a2-9afc-d8f91d52f6fe">631-3200</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQ3_e2b87c2a-1e4b-47a9-a41b-0c99d643e2b8">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzM5_f940ab60-be82-45a8-a151-c1e1c20a4ec0">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQ4_5bc25083-b54c-43f6-b4d5-d218e5632cbe">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQ5_ff389211-f069-4aa4-9501-3a9c13c838d7">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGFibGU6NjFkMzVhYTk0MTE3NGJiMDhhM2VmYmE4OGUwNzkzZGIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2MWQzNWFhOTQxMTc0YmIwOGEzZWZiYTg4ZTA3OTNkYl8xLTAtMS0xLTA_29c4a4b2-534b-49d9-bbca-b093a98f3ff6">Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGFibGU6NjFkMzVhYTk0MTE3NGJiMDhhM2VmYmE4OGUwNzkzZGIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2MWQzNWFhOTQxMTc0YmIwOGEzZWZiYTg4ZTA3OTNkYl8xLTEtMS0xLTA_1d11e4b3-b455-430e-9fd6-eaf729aae875">EBS</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGFibGU6NjFkMzVhYTk0MTE3NGJiMDhhM2VmYmE4OGUwNzkzZGIvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2MWQzNWFhOTQxMTc0YmIwOGEzZWZiYTg4ZTA3OTNkYl8xLTItMS0xLTA_9c13e1f9-ecae-4a9b-920f-46f81bdc4c5f">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i14cf4c07c77d40e38d3a975deb845c7e_D20210512-20210512"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmE1ZDcyZTk5MDFmNzRhYzE5ZjdjMGM3ZjZjYzBlOTRjL3NlYzphNWQ3MmU5OTAxZjc0YWMxOWY3YzBjN2Y2Y2MwZTk0Y18xL2ZyYWc6ZDNlYWMzNmU1ZDY4NDQyNmI0M2JhZmE0ZmIxZjc3MzMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkM2VhYzM2ZTVkNjg0NDI2YjQzYmFmYTRmYjFmNzczM18yMzQ1_f5db37e9-3af5-470b-a227-396b007103ac">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
