CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2021	Jan. 03, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 96.8	$ 88.9
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.1* and $0.0*, respectively	(0.4)	(0.2)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of $(0.1) and $(0.2), respectively	0.8	0.9
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans	0.4	0.7
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $1.5 and $0.0*, respectively	(4.8)	(0.1)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax (expense) benefit of $(0.1) and $0.2, respectively	0.3	(0.6)
Derivative instruments	(4.5)	(0.7)
Currency translation adjustment	13.0	5.1
Other comprehensive earnings	8.9	5.1
Comprehensive earnings	105.7	94.0
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.3	0.7
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian	$ 105.4	$ 93.3