Consolidated Condensed Statements Of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018	Sep. 27, 2019	Sep. 28, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 5,037.3	$ 4,853.1	$ 15,073.8	$ 14,529.5
Cost of sales	(2,228.9)	(2,162.6)	(6,670.0)	(6,378.3)
Gross profit	2,808.4	2,690.5	8,403.8	8,151.2
Operating costs:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,654.7)	(1,558.6)	(5,009.9)	(4,798.4)
Research and development expenses	(318.9)	(301.2)	(951.5)	(911.6)
Operating profit	834.8	830.7	2,442.4	2,441.2
Nonoperating income (expense):
Other income, net	4.4	9.1	15.9	25.2
Interest expense	(26.3)	(41.3)	(70.2)	(123.6)
Interest income	30.1	2.8	72.0	6.7
Earnings before income taxes	843.0	801.3	2,460.1	2,349.5
Income taxes	(169.1)	(137.6)	(721.1)	(445.4)
Net earnings	673.9	663.7	1,739.0	1,904.1
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5.9)	0.0	(5.9)	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Danaher stockholders	668.0	663.7	1,733.1	1,904.1
Mandatory convertible preferred stock dividends	(19.6)	0.0	(48.8)	0.0
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	$ 648.4	$ 663.7	$ 1,684.3	$ 1,904.1
Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$ 0.90	$ 0.95	$ 2.36	$ 2.72
Diluted	$ 0.89	$ 0.93	$ 2.32	$ 2.68
Average common stock and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic	718.8	701.4	714.7	700.1
Diluted	729.3	710.6	725.2	709.9