Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2019	Jul. 26, 2019
Cover page.
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $1 par value
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Document Transition Report	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 28, 2019
Entity File Number	1-7598
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Address, Address Line One	3100 Hansen Way,
Entity Address, City or Town	Palo Alto,
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Trading Symbol	VAR
Entity Registrant Name	VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
City Area Code	650
Local Phone Number	493-4000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000203527
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-27
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		91,060,717
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-2359345
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94304-1038
Security Exchange Name	NYSE