CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 29, 2019	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 29, 2019		Mar. 30, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss)		$ 88.4	$ 73.2	$ 192.3		$ (39.0)
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.1 and $0.1, for the three and six months ended March 29, 2019, respectively, and $0.0 and $0.1, for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2018, respectively	[1]	(0.1)	(0.3)	(0.3)		(0.5)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($0.1) and ($0.2), for three and six months ended March 29, 2019, respectively, and ($0.1) and ($0.3), for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2018, respectively		0.4	0.7	0.9		1.2
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans		0.3	0.4	0.6		0.7
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0.2 and $0.3, for the three and six months ended March 30, 2018, respectively		0.0	(0.4)	0.0		(0.6)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of ($0.3) for both the three and six months ended March 30, 2018, respectively		0.0	0.7	0.0	[1]	0.6	[1]
Derivative instruments		0.0	0.3	0.0		0.0
Currency translation adjustment		(3.1)	6.6	(7.1)		9.7
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)		(2.8)	7.3	(6.5)		10.4
Comprehensive earnings (loss)		85.6	80.5	185.8		(28.6)
Less: Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(0.2)	0.0	0.5		0.1
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Varian		$ 85.8	$ 80.5	$ 185.3		$ (28.7)

[1] Tax expense or benefit related to the periods presented are not material.