CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss)		$ 73.2	$ 56.2	$ (39.0)	$ 70.7
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.0 and $0.1 for the three and six months ended March 30, 2018, respectively, and $0.0 and $0.1 for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2017, respectively.	[1]	(0.3)	(0.1)	(0.5)	(0.2)
Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($0.1) and ($0.3) for three and six months ended March 30, 2018, respectively, and ($0.2) and ($0.4) for the corresponding periods of fiscal year 2017, respectively.		0.7	0.9	1.2	1.8
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans		0.4	0.8	0.7	1.6
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0.2 and $0.3 for the three and six months ended March 30, 2018.		(0.4)	0.0	(0.6)	0.0
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of ($0.3) for both the three and six months ended March 30, 2018.		0.7	0.0	0.6	0.0
Derivative instruments		0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Currency translation adjustment		6.6	2.9	9.7	(10.2)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)		7.3	3.7	10.4	(8.6)
Comprehensive earnings (loss)		80.5	59.9	(28.6)	62.1
Less: Comprehensive (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		0.0	(0.1)	0.1	0.5
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Varian		$ 80.5	$ 60.0	$ (28.7)	$ 61.6

[1] Tax expense or benefit related to the periods presented are not material.