Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of presentation and consolidation	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emergent and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC. All adjustments contained in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2019. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for an entire year.
Recently Adopted and New Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Leases In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-02, Leases, which increases transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements for both lessees and lessors. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. As of January 1, 2019 total right of use assets increased $13.4 million, while total operating lease liabilities increased $14.0 million. There was no adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2019. The standard will not materially affect the Company's consolidated net earnings. The Company continues to apply the legacy guidance from the old lease accounting standard, including its disclosure requirements, in the comparative periods presented. The Company did not reassess existing contracts for lease classification or the classification of existing leases or associated costs. The Company will not reflect leases with an initial term of 12 months or less as a right of use asset or liability, but will recognize those lease payments in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In addition, the Company will account for non-lease components of the arrangement separate from lease components (see Note 6). SEC Simplification In August 2018, the SEC issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, which makes a number of changes meant to simplify interim disclosures. The new rule requires a presentation of changes in stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interest in the form of a reconciliation, for the current and comparative year-to-date interim periods. The Company adopted the new disclosure requirements beginning in its March 31, 2019 Form 10-Q and included these disclosures in the condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity. The additional elements of this release did not have a material impact on the Company's overall condensed consolidated financial statements. Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2018-02 provides the option to reclassify certain income tax effects related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December of 2017 between accumulated other comprehensive income and retained earnings and also requires additional disclosures. The Company adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2019. There was no impact for the adoption of ASU 2018-02 on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements. New Accounting Pronouncements Financial Instruments - Credit Losses In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. ASU 2016-13 provides guidance on measurement of credit losses on financial instruments that changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities and loans, and that requires entities to use a new, forward-looking “expected loss” model that is likely to result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The guidance was further amended in January 2019 to clarify or address stakeholders’ specific issues about certain aspects of the amendments in the update and in May 2019 to provide an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for certain financial assets previously measured on an amortized cost basis. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years, but early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the pronouncement will have on its consolidated financial statements. Goodwill In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill and eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual and interim goodwill tests beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates on or after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements. Fair Value Measurements In August 2018 the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This new standard modifies certain disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. This new standard will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this new standard will have a material impact on the Company's disclosures. Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General. ASU 2018-14 modifies the disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans. ASU 2018-14 is effective for all entities for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2018-14 on its consolidated financial statements.