CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Apr. 03, 2020	Mar. 29, 2019	Apr. 03, 2020	Mar. 29, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings		$ 43.1	$ 88.4	$ 132.0	$ 192.3
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.1 and $0.1, for three and six months ended April 3, 2020, respectively, and $0.1 and $0.1, for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2019, respectively	[1]	(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.3)	(0.3)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of $(0.1) and $(0.3), for three and six months ended April 3, 2020, respectively, and $(0.1) and $(0.2), for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2019, respectively		0.9	0.4	1.8	0.9
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans		0.8	0.3	1.5	0.6
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax expense of $(0.6) and $(0.6), respectively	[1]	2.1	0.0	2.0	0.0
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax benefit of $0.2 and $0.4, respectively		(0.9)	0.0	(1.5)	0.0
Derivative instruments		1.2	0.0	0.5	0.0
Currency translation adjustment		(6.8)	(3.1)	(1.7)	(7.1)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)		(4.8)	(2.8)	0.3	(6.5)
Comprehensive earnings		38.3	85.6	132.3	185.8
Less: Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(0.1)	(0.2)	0.6	0.5
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian		$ 38.4	$ 85.8	$ 131.7	$ 185.3

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