CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2016	Apr. 03, 2015	Apr. 01, 2016	Apr. 03, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 96,983	$ 105,969	$ 186,025	$ 199,283
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $46 and $91 for the three and six months ended April 1, 2016, respectively, and $39 and $80 for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	(71)	(40)	(143)	(78)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($132) and ($264) for the three and six months ended April 1, 2016, respectively, and ($115) and ($231) for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	601	505	1,202	1,009
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans:	530	465	1,059	931
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax benefit (expense) of $534 and $480 for the three and six months ended April 1, 2016, respectively, and ($455) and ($739) for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	(893)	763	(802)	1,238
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax benefit of $29 for both the three and six months ended April 1, 2016, respectively, and $701 and $1,027 for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	(50)	(1,176)	(50)	(1,721)
Derivative instruments:	(943)	(413)	(852)	(483)
Available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax benefit of $141 for the six months ended April 1, 2016.	0	0	(299)	0
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of ($193) for the six months ended April 1, 2016.	0	0	411	0
Available-for-sale securities:	0	0	112	0
Currency translation adjustment	9,829	(18,170)	5,176	(30,460)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	9,416	(18,118)	5,495	(30,012)
Comprehensive earnings	106,399	87,851	191,520	169,271
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	12	0	27	0
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian	$ 106,387	$ 87,851	$ 191,493	$ 169,271