Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 24, 2013	Jun. 28, 2011
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000103145
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1,376,219,104
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		39,246,279
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY