CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2018	Sep. 29, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 150.3	$ 219.2	$ 399.7
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Net gain (loss) arising during the year, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($1.1), ($2.5), and $4.3	4.7	10.0	(21.4)
Prior service credit arising during the year, net of tax expense of ($0.3), ($0.7), and ($0.2)	1.9	4.3	1.1
Amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax benefit of $0.2, $0.2, and $0.2	(1.0)	(0.8)	(0.4)
Amortization, settlement and curtailment of net actuarial loss included in net periodic benefit cost, net of tax expense of ($0.6), ($1.0), and ($0.5)	3.3	5.7	3.5
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans	8.9	19.2	(17.2)
Derivative instruments:
Change in unrealized gain (loss), net of tax benefit of $0.3, $0.0, and $0.4	(0.6)	0.0	(0.6)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax (expense) benefit of ($0.3), $0.0, and ($0.4)	0.6	0.0	0.6
Derivative Instruments	0.0	0.0	0.0
Available-for-sale securities:
Change in unrealized loss, net of tax benefit of $0.0, $0.0, and $0.1	0.0	0.0	(0.3)
Reclassification adjustments, net of tax expense of $0.0, $0.0, and ($0.2)	0.0	0.0	0.4
Available-for-sale securities	0.0	0.0	0.1
Currency translation adjustment	(5.4)	12.8	2.8
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	3.5	32.0	(14.3)
Comprehensive earnings	153.8	251.2	385.4
Less: Comprehensive earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.4	0.7	0.4
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Varian	$ 153.4	$ 250.5	$ 385.0