CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Varian Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle | Accounting Standard Codification 606				$ 56.7
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Oct. 02, 2015		98.1
Balance at beginning of period at Oct. 02, 2015	$ 1,783.0	$ 98.1	$ 682.2	1,074.5	[1]	$ (86.5)	$ 1,768.3	$ 14.7
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings, excluding prior business	399.2			399.3			399.3	(0.1)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(14.3)					(14.3)	(14.3)
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		1.4
Issuance of common stock	61.9	$ 1.4	60.5				61.9
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units (in shares)		(0.1)
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(11.0)	$ (0.1)	(10.9)				(11.0)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 48.3		48.3				48.3
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(5.7)	(5.7)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (461.3)	$ (5.7)	(104.5)	(351.1)			(461.3)
Reclassification of MeVis to redeemable noncontrolling interest and other	(10.4)							(10.4)
Other	2.5		3.0				3.0	(0.5)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		93.7
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2016	1,797.9	$ 93.7	678.6	1,122.7		(100.8)	1,794.2	3.7
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings, excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest	219.1			218.5			218.5	0.6
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	32.0					32.0	32.0
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		1.4
Issuance of common stock	70.7	$ 1.4	69.3				70.7
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units (in shares)		(0.1)
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(10.7)	$ (0.1)	(10.6)				(10.7)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 40.8		40.8				40.8
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(3.3)	(3.3)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (294.5)	$ (3.3)	(62.7)	(228.5)			(294.5)
Other	0.7		0.7				0.7
Distribution of Varex	$ (334.1)			(334.1)			(334.1)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2017	91.7	91.7
Balance at end of period at Sep. 29, 2017	$ 1,521.9	$ 91.7	716.1	778.6		(68.8)	1,517.6	4.3
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings, excluding redeemable noncontrolling interest	150.3			149.9			149.9	0.4
Other comprehensive earnings (loss)	3.5					3.5	3.5
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		1.2
Issuance of common stock	60.7	$ 1.2	59.5				60.7
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock units (in shares)		(0.1)
Tax withholdings on vesting of equity awards	(11.6)	$ (0.1)	(11.5)				(11.6)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 45.9		45.9				45.9
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(1.6)	(1.6)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (181.9)	$ (1.6)	(32.5)	(147.8)			(181.9)
Other	$ (0.1)		0.6	(0.3)			0.3	(0.4)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2018	91.2	91.2
Balance at end of period at Sep. 28, 2018	$ 1,588.7	$ 91.2	$ 778.1	$ 780.4		$ (65.3)	$ 1,584.4	$ 4.3

[1] The cumulative effect of Accounting Standard Codification 606 "Revenues from Contracts with Customers" to the Company's retained earnings at October 2, 2015 was $56.7 million.