Segment financial information - adjusted operating income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2026	Sep. 30, 2025	Sep. 30, 2026	Sep. 30, 2025
Segment financial information
Net sales	$ 1,698.3	$ 1,623.8	$ 4,972.0	$ 4,888.6
Adjusted cost of goods and services sold	1,163.5	1,097.2	3,398.7	3,272.7
Adjusted operating expenses	307.2	289.3	930.0	883.6
Adjusted Operating Income	227.6	237.3	643.3	732.3
Adjusted cost of sales, non-GAAP adjustments		0.1	0.8	0.4
Adjusted operating expenses, non-GAAP adjustments	88.1	886.0	281.7	1,104.5
Bioscience & Medtech Products
Segment financial information
Net sales	464.5	448.8	1,347.7	1,351.1
VWR Distribution & Services
Segment financial information
Net sales	1,233.8	1,175.0	3,624.3	3,537.5
Operating Segments | Bioscience & Medtech Products
Segment financial information
Net sales	464.5	448.8	1,347.7	1,351.1
Adjusted cost of goods and services sold	242.1	232.0	700.7	690.2
Adjusted operating expenses	99.0	97.5	303.3	295.7
Adjusted Operating Income	123.4	119.3	343.7	365.2
Operating Segments | VWR Distribution & Services
Segment financial information
Net sales	1,233.8	1,175.0	3,624.3	3,537.5
Adjusted cost of goods and services sold	921.4	865.2	2,698.0	2,582.5
Adjusted operating expenses	193.0	177.8	575.1	533.5
Adjusted Operating Income	119.4	132.0	351.2	421.5
Corporate
Segment financial information
Net sales	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Adjusted cost of goods and services sold	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Adjusted operating expenses	15.2	14.0	51.6	54.4
Adjusted Operating Income	$ (15.2)	$ (14.0)	$ (51.6)	$ (54.4)