CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2020	Mar. 29, 2019	Apr. 03, 2020	Mar. 29, 2019
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 794.5	$ 779.4	$ 1,623.4	$ 1,520.4
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	457.3	461.2	919.4	886.1
Gross margin	337.2	318.2	704.0	634.3
Operating expenses:
Research and development	71.0	59.4	138.1	120.3
Selling, general and administrative	175.3	146.8	352.3	287.9
Impairment charges	40.5	0.0	40.5	0.0
Acquisition-related expenses (benefits)	(4.5)	2.2	8.2
Total operating expenses	282.3	208.4	539.1	412.8
Operating earnings	54.9	109.8	164.9	221.5
Interest income	3.1	4.0	6.1	7.9
Interest expense	(4.3)	(1.0)	(9.0)	(2.2)
Other income (expense), net	(0.9)
Other income (expense), net		0.2	3.5	23.2
Earnings before taxes	52.8	113.0	165.5	250.4
Taxes on earnings	9.7	24.6	33.5	58.1
Net earnings	43.1	88.4	132.0	192.3
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.1)	(0.2)	0.6	0.5
Net earnings attributable to Varian	$ 43.2	$ 88.6	$ 131.4	$ 191.8
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.97	$ 1.45	$ 2.11
Net earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.96	$ 1.43	$ 2.09
Shares used in the calculation of net earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	90.7	91.0	90.8	91.0
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	91.4	91.9	91.6	92.0
Other expense, net	$ 0.9
Product
Revenues:
Revenues	407.3	$ 430.5	$ 828.3	$ 830.7
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	263.1	294.4	535.0	561.0
Service
Revenues:
Revenues	387.2	348.9	795.1	689.7
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	$ 194.2	$ 166.8	$ 384.4	$ 325.1