Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2011 Key employees	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock options, Bruker Corporation Stock Plan Y	Dec. 31, 2000 Stock options, Bruker Corporation Stock Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock options, Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies Stock Plan Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Stock options, Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies Stock Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted stock Y	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted stock	Dec. 31, 2009 Restricted stock
Stock-Based Compensation
Plan expiration term (in years)						P10Y
Award vesting period, minimum (in years)					P3Y		P3Y		P3Y
Award vesting period, maximum (in years)					P5Y		P5Y		P5Y
Common stock authorized for issuance (in shares)				384,000	8,000,000		1,600,000
Stock option, Number of shares
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)					4,718,648
Granted (in shares)					904,244
Exercised (in shares)					(354,559)
Forfeited (in shares)					(172,080)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)					5,096,253
Vested at the end of the period (in shares)					2,769,107
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period (in shares)					4,975,241
Stock options, Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)					$ 9.99
Granted (in dollars per share)					$ 13.91
Exercised (in dollars per share)					$ 9.29
Forfeited (in dollars per share)					$ 12.76
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)					$ 10.64
Vested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)					$ 8.79
Exercisable and expected to vest at the end of the period (in dollars per share)					$ 10.59
Stock options, Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in years)					6.3
Vested at the end of the period (in years)					4.8
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period (in years)					6.3
Stock options, Aggregate intrinsic value
Exercised (in dollars)					$ 3.2
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars)					11.8
Vested at the end of the period (in dollars)					10.4
Vested and expected to vest at the end of the period (in dollars)					11.7
Fair value of the Company's common stock price					$ 12.42
Unrecognized pre-tax stock-based compensation expense					14.1		1.2		3.3
Weighted average remaining service period (in years)					2.2		2.3		3.3
Restricted stock, Number of shares
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)									247,258
Granted (in shares)									156,823
Vested (in shares)									(167,549)
Forfeited (in shares)									(300)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)									236,232	247,258
Restricted stock, Weighted-average grant date fair value
Non-vested at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)									$ 8.02
Granted (in dollars per shares)									$ 21.28
Vested (in dollars per share)									$ 6.70
Forfeited (in dollars per share)									$ 7.55
Non-vested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)									$ 17.76	$ 8.02
Incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options awarded to key employees and directors of the company (in shares)							800,000	800,000
Total stock-based compensation pre-tax	$ 7.9	$ 6.9	$ 6.3				$ 0.5	$ 0.5	$ 1.3	$ 1.1	$ 1.3