Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, plant and equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment, gross		$ 603.5	$ 622.7
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(372.4)	(372.8)
Property, plant and equipment, net		231.1	249.9
Depreciation and amortization		32.6	39.5	$ 40.5
BSI | CAM Division
Property, plant and equipment, Net
Period in which acceptable financial performance estimated to be unachievable	2 years
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment			5.5
BSI | Bruker BioSpin Group
Property, plant and equipment, Net
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment		2.1
BEST
Property, plant and equipment, Net
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment			5.1
Land
Property, plant and equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment, gross		27.6	29.7
Building and leasehold improvements
Property, plant and equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment, gross		261.9	272.1
Machinery, equipment, software and furniture and fixtures
Property, plant and equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment, gross		$ 314.0	$ 320.9