Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	May 01, 2020
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-16244
Entity Registrant Name	VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	11-2989601
Entity Address, Address Line One	Terminal Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Plainview
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	11803
City Area Code	516
Local Phone Number	677-0200
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	VECO
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		49,428,391
Entity Central Index Key	0000103145
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false