CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Jan. 03, 2020	Dec. 28, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings		$ 88.9	$ 103.9
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 $0.0*, respectively	[1]	(0.2)	(0.2)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of $(0.2) and $(0.1), respectively		0.9	0.5
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans		0.7	0.3
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0.0* and $0.0, respectively	[1]	(0.1)	0.0
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax benefit of $0.2 and $0.0, respectively		(0.6)	0.0
Derivative instruments		(0.7)	0.0
Currency translation adjustment		5.1	(4.0)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)		5.1	(3.7)
Comprehensive earnings		94.0	100.2
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		0.7	0.7
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian		93.3	99.5
Tax on amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost	[1]	$ 0.0	$ 0.0

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