CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY Statement - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Varian Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2017		91.7
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 29, 2017	$ 1,521.9	$ 91.7	$ 716.1	$ 778.6	$ (68.8)	$ 1,517.6	$ 4.3
Net earnings (loss)	(112.2)			(112.3)		(112.3)	0.1
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	3.1				3.1	3.1
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.4
Issuance of common stock	24.2	$ 0.4	23.8			24.2
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(0.3)		(0.3)			(0.3)
Share-based compensation expense	10.7		10.7			10.7
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(0.5)
Repurchases of common stock	(56.7)	$ (0.5)	(10.4)	(45.8)		(56.7)
Other	0.3		0.6	(0.3)		0.3
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2017		91.6
Balance at end of period at Dec. 29, 2017	1,391.0	$ 91.6	740.5	620.2	(65.7)	1,386.6	4.4
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2017		91.7
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 29, 2017	1,521.9	$ 91.7	716.1	778.6	(68.8)	1,517.6	4.3
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	$ 10.4
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.8)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 30, 2018		91.7
Balance at end of period at Mar. 30, 2018	$ 1,456.6	$ 91.7	754.7	664.2	(58.4)	1,452.2	4.4
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2017		91.6
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 29, 2017	1,391.0	$ 91.6	740.5	620.2	(65.7)	1,386.6	4.4
Net earnings (loss)	73.2			73.2		73.2
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	7.3				7.3	7.3
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.5
Issuance of common stock	21.4	$ 0.5	20.9			21.4
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards (shares)		(0.1)
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(10.8)	$ (0.1)	(10.7)			(10.8)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 10.5		10.5			10.5
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.3)	(0.3)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (36.0)	$ (0.3)	(6.5)	(29.2)		(36.0)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 30, 2018		91.7
Balance at end of period at Mar. 30, 2018	$ 1,456.6	$ 91.7	754.7	664.2	(58.4)	1,452.2	4.4
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2018	91.2	91.2
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 28, 2018	$ 1,588.7	$ 91.2	778.1	780.4	(65.3)	1,584.4	4.3
Net earnings (loss)	103.9			103.2		103.2	0.7
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	(3.7)				(3.7)	(3.7)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.3
Issuance of common stock	22.0	$ 0.3	21.7			22.0
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(4.4)		(4.4)			(4.4)
Share-based compensation expense	10.5		10.5			10.5
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)		(0.3)
Repurchases of common stock	(34.8)	$ (0.3)	(6.6)	(27.9)		(34.8)
Other	(0.2)			(0.2)		(0.2)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2018		91.2
Balance at end of period at Dec. 28, 2018	$ 1,682.0	$ 91.2	799.3	855.5	(69.0)	1,677.0	5.0
Beginning balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2018	91.2	91.2
Balance at beginning of period at Sep. 28, 2018	$ 1,588.7	$ 91.2	778.1	780.4	(65.3)	1,584.4	4.3
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	$ (6.5)
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.7)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2019	91.2	91.2
Balance at end of period at Mar. 29, 2019	$ 1,740.1	$ 91.2	813.6	902.3	(71.8)	1,735.3	4.8
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2018		91.2
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 28, 2018	1,682.0	$ 91.2	799.3	855.5	(69.0)	1,677.0	5.0
Net earnings (loss)	88.4			88.6		88.6	(0.2)
Other comprehensive (loss) earnings	(2.8)				(2.8)	(2.8)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		0.5
Issuance of common stock	20.3	$ 0.5	19.8			20.3
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards (shares)		(0.1)
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(9.5)	$ (0.1)	(9.4)			(9.5)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 12.5		12.5			12.5
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(0.4)	(0.4)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (50.8)	$ (0.4)	(8.6)	(41.8)		(50.8)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2019	91.2	91.2
Balance at end of period at Mar. 29, 2019	$ 1,740.1	$ 91.2	$ 813.6	$ 902.3	$ (71.8)	$ 1,735.3	$ 4.8