Other Charges, Net - Restructuring Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended			18 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	$ 29.3	$ 36.1	$ 25.3
Gain (loss) on disposal of product line	(0.2)	8.3	0.9
Inventory provisions for inventory write-downs	7.0	11.8	2.1
Severance costs	15.9	15.5	17.9
Exit related costs	6.4	8.8	5.3
Cost of Revenue
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	21.2	25.0	7.1
Other Charges
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	8.1	11.1	18.2
BSI
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	$ 28.4	36.1	23.0
BSI | CAM Division
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges				$ 18.8
Inventory provisions for inventory write-downs				10.3
Severance and exit costs				8.5
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment		5.5
BSI | CAM Division | Interest and other income expense
Restructuring charges
Gain (loss) on disposal of product line		8.0
BSI | Bruker BioSpin Group
Restructuring charges
Expected reduction in employee headcount (as a percent)	9.00%
Restructuring charges	$ 14.1
Inventory provisions for inventory write-downs	2.1
Severance and exit costs	12.0
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment	2.1
BSI | Bruker BioSpin Group | Cost of Revenue
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	12.3
BSI | Bruker BioSpin Group | Other Charges
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	1.8
BSI | Bruker BioSpin Group | Minimum | Employee separation and facility exit costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	3.0			3.0
BSI | Bruker BioSpin Group | Maximum | Employee separation and facility exit costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	5.0			$ 5.0
BEST
Restructuring charges
Restructuring charges	$ 0.9	36.1	$ 2.3
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment		$ 5.1