CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 779.4	$ 729.9	$ 1,520.4	$ 1,408.4
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	461.2	411.4	886.1	787.1
Gross margin	318.2	318.5	634.3	621.3
Operating expenses:
Research and development	59.4	58.9	120.3	114.8
Selling, general and administrative	149.0	139.4	292.5	264.7
Impairment charges	0.0	11.1	0.0	11.1
Total operating expenses	208.4	209.4	412.8	390.6
Operating earnings	109.8	109.1	221.5	230.7
Interest income	4.0	3.6	7.9	6.8
Interest expense	(1.0)	(2.3)	(2.2)	(4.4)
Other income (expense), net	0.2	(14.8)	23.2	(15.0)
Earnings before taxes	113.0	95.6	250.4	218.1
Taxes on earnings	24.6	22.4	58.1	257.1
Net earnings (loss)	88.4	73.2	192.3	(39.0)
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.2)	0.0	0.5	0.1
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Varian	$ 88.6	$ 73.2	$ 191.8	$ (39.1)
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.97	$ 0.80	$ 2.11	$ (0.43)
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.79	$ 2.09	$ (0.43)
Shares used in the calculation of net earnings (loss) per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	91.0	91.5	91.0	91.6
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	91.9	92.6	92.0	91.6
Product
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 430.5	$ 393.8	$ 830.7	$ 759.4
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product and service	294.4	264.2	561.0	488.1
Service
Revenues:
Total revenues	348.9	336.1	689.7	649.0
Cost of revenues:
Cost of product and service	$ 166.8	$ 147.2	$ 325.1	$ 299.0