CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2020	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 269.4	$ 292.2	$ 150.3
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Net gain (loss) arising during the year, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(0.2), $4.5, and $(1.1)	0.3	(27.8)	4.7
Prior service credit (cost) arising during the year, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(2.1), $0.1, and $(0.3)	11.8	(0.7)	1.9
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.1, $0.1, and $0.2	(0.9)	(0.7)	(1.0)
Amortization, settlement and curtailment of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax (expense) of $(0.6), $(0.4), and $(0.6)	3.6	2.7	3.3
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans	14.8	(26.5)	8.9
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax benefit (expense) of $0.1, $(0.7), and $0.3	(0.2)	2.3	(0.6)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax benefit (expense) of $0.6, $0.0, and $(0.3)	(2.0)	(0.2)	0.6
Derivative Instruments	(2.2)	2.1	0.0
Currency translation adjustment	3.8	(12.4)	(5.4)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	16.4	(36.8)	3.5
Comprehensive earnings	285.8	255.4	153.8
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.2	0.3	0.4
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian	$ 285.6	$ 255.1	$ 153.4