CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2016	Jul. 03, 2015	Jul. 01, 2016	Jul. 03, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 98,886	$ 113,642	$ 284,911	$ 312,925
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $45 and $136 for the three and nine months ended July 1, 2016, respectively, and $41 and $121 for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	(72)	(39)	(215)	(117)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($132) and ($396) for the three and nine months ended July 1, 2016, respectively, and ($116) and ($347) for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	602	505	1,804	1,514
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans:	530	466	1,589	1,397
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax (expense) benefit of ($137) and $343 for the three and nine months ended July 1, 2016, respectively, and ($127) and ($866) for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	228	214	(574)	1,452
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($250) and ($221) for the three and nine months ended July 1, 2016, respectively, and $259 and $1,286 for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	418	(434)	368	(2,155)
Derivative instruments:	646	(220)	(206)	(703)
Available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0 and $141 for the three and nine months ended July 1, 2016, respectively, and $102 for both of the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2015, respectively.	0	(218)	(299)	(218)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of ($193) for the nine months ended July 1, 2016.	0	0	411	0
Available-for-sale securities:	0	(218)	112	(218)
Currency translation adjustment	(4,270)	2,112	906	(28,348)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(3,094)	2,140	2,401	(27,872)
Comprehensive earnings	95,792	115,782	287,312	285,053
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	91	78	118	78
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian	$ 95,701	$ 115,704	$ 287,194	$ 284,975