CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 02, 2015	Sep. 26, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 402.7	$ 412.0	$ 403.7
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Net loss arising during the year, net of tax benefit of $4.3, $0.9 and $0.9	(21.4)	(4.7)	(9.6)
Prior service credit arising during the year, net of tax expense of ($0.2), $0.0 and ($1.2)	1.1	0.0	2.1
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit (expense) of $0.2, $0.1 and ($0.1)	(0.4)	(0.2)	0.1
Amortization, settlement curtailment of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($0.5), ($0.6) and ($0.5)	3.5	2.9	3.4
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:	(17.2)	(2.0)	(4.0)
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax benefit (expense) of $0.4, ($0.8) and ($1.4)	(0.6)	1.4	2.5
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax benefit (expense) of ($0.4), $1.4 and $0.5	0.6	(2.4)	(0.8)
Derivative instruments:	0.0	(1.0)	1.7
Available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0.1, $0.1 and $0.0	(0.3)	(0.1)	0.0
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of ($0.2), $0.0 and $0.0	0.4	0.0	0.0
Available-for-sale securities:	0.1	(0.1)	0.0
Currency translation adjustment	2.8	(24.8)	(16.2)
Other comprehensive loss	(14.3)	(27.9)	(18.5)
Comprehensive earnings	388.4	384.1	385.2
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.4	0.5	0.0
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian	$ 388.0	$ 383.6	$ 385.2