Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 176.3	$ 165.2
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(102.2)	(87.7)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	74.1	77.5
Gross Carrying Amount, total intangible assets	176.9	171.5
Net Carrying Amount, total intangible assets	74.7	83.8
Amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization	20.7	20.2	$ 20.8
BSI | CAM Division
Intangible assets:
Impairment charge on definite-lived intangible assets		0.9
BSI | Bruker BioSpin Group
Intangible assets:
Impairment charge on definite-lived intangible assets	1.8
In-process research and development
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets not subject to amortization	0.6	6.3
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets not subject to amortization	0.6	6.3
Existing technology and related patents
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	154.5	149.8
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(95.5)	(81.7)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	59.0	68.1
Customer relationships
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	18.4	13.4
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(5.9)	(5.6)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	12.5	7.8
Non compete contracts
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	1.8	1.8
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(0.6)	(0.2)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	1.2	1.6
Trade names
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	1.6	0.2
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(0.2)	$ (0.2)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 1.4