Other Charges, Net - Restructuring Plans (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) employee	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 20.8	$ 29.3	$ 36.1
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups
Restructuring charges
Expected reduction in number of employees | employee	125
Restructuring expenses	$ 10.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	6.8
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	3.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	7.8
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	4.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	3.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	11.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	8.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	2.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	13.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	10.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	$ 3.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group
Restructuring charges
Reduction in employee headcount (as a percent)	9.00%
Restructuring expenses	$ 3.3	16.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.2	12.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.1	3.9
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	3.3	12.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.2	10.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.1	1.8
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		4.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		2.1
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		2.1
Various other programs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	7.1	13.1	36.1
Various other programs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.0	8.9	25.0
Various other programs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 5.1	$ 4.2	$ 11.1