CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Jun. 28, 2019	Jun. 29, 2018	Jun. 28, 2019	Jun. 29, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings		$ 29.5	$ 72.5	$ 221.8	$ 33.5
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.0 and $0.1, for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2019, respectively, and $0.1 and $0.2, for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2018, respectively	[1]	(0.2)	(0.1)	(0.5)	(0.6)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($0.1) and ($0.3), for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2019, respectively, and ($0.1) and ($0.4), for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2018, respectively		0.5	0.5	1.4	1.7
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans		0.3	0.4	0.9	1.1
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0.0 for both the three and nine months ended June 28, 2019, and $0.3 for the nine months ended June 28, 2018	[1]	(0.3)	0.0	(0.3)	(0.6)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of ($0.3) for nine months ended June 28, 2018, respectively		0.0	0.0	0.0	0.6
Derivative instruments		(0.3)	0.0	(0.3)	0.0
Currency translation adjustment		2.3	(12.7)	(4.8)	(3.0)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)		2.3	(12.3)	(4.2)	(1.9)
Comprehensive earnings		31.8	60.2	217.6	31.6
Less: Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		0.1	(0.1)	0.6	0.0
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian		$ 31.7	$ 60.3	$ 217.0	$ 31.6

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