-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LC/+uorqnBdBSPc25Nz9epLCtSkCJ96GhX67mLClLBT9Vy3yl/4LVPx+agMjswfR
 oqRmiEb+tFiPcTLUHzbKMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001079028-04-000087.txt : 20041005
<SEC-HEADER>0001079028-04-000087.hdr.sgml : 20041005
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041005125713
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001079028-04-000087
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041004
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041005
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041005

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VARIAN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001079028
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				770501995
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3120 HANSEN WAY
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304-1030
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-213-8000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOMAN ARTHUR W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232119

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25393
		FILM NUMBER:		041065125

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O VARIAN INC
		STREET 2:		3120 HANSEN WAY
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			943041030
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6504245054

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3120 HANSEN WAY
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			934041030
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001079028</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VARIAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VARI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232119</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOMAN ARTHUR W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3120 HANSEN WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304-1030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Gen Counsel&amp; Sec'y</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>191</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.623</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>345</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Purchase made under the Varian, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which qualifies under Rule 16b-3(c) as an exempt purchase under Section 16(b).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Arthur W. Homan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----