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Other Income (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2013
Feb. 28, 2013
Mar. 29, 2013
Sep. 26, 2014
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity securities $ 167us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfMarketableSecurities            
Gain on sale of marketable equity securities 122.6us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss 201.5us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss 0us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss        
Marketable securities, after tax realized gain (loss) 77dhr_MarketableSecuritiesAfterTaxRealizedGainLoss            
After-tax gain on sale upon closing of transaction, per diluted share $ 0.11dhr_AfterTaxGainOnSaleUponClosingOfTransactionPerDilutedShare            
Gain on sale of a product line 33.9us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal 0us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal 0us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal        
Gain on sale of joint venture 0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfStockInSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvestee 229.8us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfStockInSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvestee 0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfStockInSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvestee        
Align Technology, Inc.              
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity securities       251us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfMarketableSecurities
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_AlignTechnologyInc.Member
     
Gain on sale of marketable equity securities       202.0us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_AlignTechnologyInc.Member
     
Marketable securities, after tax realized gain (loss)       125dhr_MarketableSecuritiesAfterTaxRealizedGainLoss
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_AlignTechnologyInc.Member
     
After-tax gain on sale upon closing of transaction, per diluted share       $ 0.18dhr_AfterTaxGainOnSaleUponClosingOfTransactionPerDilutedShare
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_AlignTechnologyInc.Member
     
Marketable securities, number of shares sold       5dhr_MarketableSecuritiesNumberofSharesSold
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_AlignTechnologyInc.Member
     
Marketable securities, number of shares received in a legal settlement       8dhr_MarketableSecuritiesNumberofSharesReceivedinaLegalSettlement
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_AlignTechnologyInc.Member
     
Apex              
Gain on sale of joint venture         229.8us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfStockInSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvestee
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_ApexMember
230.0us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfStockInSubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvestee
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= dhr_ApexMember
 
EVS hybrid              
After-tax gain on sale upon closing of transaction, per diluted share             $ 0.04dhr_AfterTaxGainOnSaleUponClosingOfTransactionPerDilutedShare
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= dhr_EVShybridMember
Gain on sale of a product line             $ 34.0us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= dhr_EVShybridMember