CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019	Jul. 03, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 694.3	$ 825.8	$ 2,317.7	$ 2,346.2
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	395.8	474.4	1,315.2	1,360.5
Gross margin	298.5	351.4	1,002.5	985.7
Operating expenses:
Research and development	65.3	62.1	203.4	182.4
Selling, general and administrative	145.0	153.6	497.3	441.5
Impairment and restructuring charges	23.1	50.6	63.6	50.6
Acquisition-related expenses and in-process research and development	5.2	31.2	13.4	35.8
Total operating expenses	238.6	297.5	777.7	710.3
Operating earnings	59.9	53.9	224.8	275.4
Interest income	2.7	3.7	8.8	11.6
Interest expense	(2.9)	(1.8)	(11.9)	(4.0)
Other income, net	25.1	4.2	28.6	27.4
Earnings before taxes	84.8	60.0	250.3	310.4
Taxes on earnings	23.9	30.5	57.4	88.6
Net earnings	60.9	29.5	192.9	221.8
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.3)	0.1	0.3	0.6
Net earnings attributable to Varian	$ 61.2	$ 29.4	$ 192.6	$ 221.2
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings per share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67	$ 0.32	$ 2.12	$ 2.43
Net earnings per share - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.67	$ 0.32	$ 2.11	$ 2.41
Shares used in the calculation of net earnings per share:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	90.8	91.0	90.8	91.0
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	91.2	91.8	91.4	91.9
Product
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 320.2	$ 461.3	$ 1,148.5	$ 1,292.0
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	225.2	298.0	760.2	859.0
Service
Revenues:
Revenues	374.1	364.5	1,169.2	1,054.2
Cost of revenues:
Total cost of revenues	$ 170.6	$ 176.4	$ 555.0	$ 501.5