v3.25.1

Document and Entity Information	Jun. 02, 2025
Cover [Abstract]
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001293971
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Jun. 02, 2025
Entity Registrant Name	bluebird bio, Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-35966
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-3680878
Entity Address, Address Line One	455 Grand Union Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	Somerville
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	02145
City Area Code	(339)
Local Phone Number	499-9300
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	BLUE
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Area code of city

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
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- Definition

Cover page.

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
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- Definition

End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:gMonthDayItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For the EDGAR submission types of Form 8-K: the date of the report, the date of the earliest event reported; for the EDGAR submission types of Form N-1A: the filing date; for all other submission types: the end of the reporting or transition period. The format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:submissionTypeItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Name of the City or Town

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Code for the postal or zip code

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Name of the state or province.

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:stateOrProvinceItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:fileNumberItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:edgarStateCountryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:employerIdItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Local phone number for entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_LocalPhoneNumber
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 13e
-Subsection 4c

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14d
-Subsection 2b

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Title of a 12(b) registered security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection d1-1

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 14a
-Subsection 12

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Securities Act
-Number 230
-Section 425

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
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bluebird bio, Inc. 8-K