CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018	Sep. 29, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Tax (expense) benefit related to net gain (loss) arising during the year for defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans	$ 4.5	$ (1.1)	$ (2.5)
Tax (expense) benefit related to prior service credit arising during the year for defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans	0.1	(0.3)	(0.7)
Tax (expense) benefit related to amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost	0.1	0.2	0.2
Tax (expense) benefit related to amortization, settlement and curtailment of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost	(0.4)	(0.6)	(1.0)
Tax (expense) benefit related to change in unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	(0.7)	0.3	0.0
Tax (expense) benefit related to reclassification adjustments on unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	0.0	(0.3)	0.0
Tax (expense) benefit related to change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tax (expense) benefit related to reclassification adjustments on unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0

Amount of tax expense (benefit) for (increase) decrease in value of benefit obligation for change in actuarial assumptions and increase (decrease) in value of plan assets from experience different from that assumed of defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansNetUnamortizedGainLossArisingDuringPeriodTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax (expense) benefit of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for prior service cost (credit) of defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAmortizationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansForNetPriorServiceCostCreditTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before reclassification, of tax expense (benefit) for gain (loss) from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e640-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) for reclassification of gain (loss) from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax (expense) benefit for cost (credit) of benefit change attributable to participants' prior service from plan amendment or plan initiation of defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569616-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansBenefitPlanImprovementTaxEffect
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax (expense) benefit of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized loss realized upon the write-down of available-for-sale securities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForWritedownOfSecuritiesTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit) before reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e640-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementOfIncomeAndComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amortization, settlement or curtailment of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost tax.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	var_AmortizationSettlementOrCurtailmentOfNetActuarialLossIncludedInNetPeriodicBenefitCostTax
Namespace Prefix:	var_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration