| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 100290 - Disclosure - Property and equipment, net (Tables) (http://www.bluebirdbio.com/20161231/taxonomy/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentNetTables) |
| Table | (Implied) |
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0001293971 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) |
| Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract] | Period [Axis] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Property and equipment | Property and equipment, net, consists of the following (in thousands):
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