Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 192.4	$ 176.3
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(123.3)	(102.2)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	69.1	74.1
Gross Carrying Amount, total intangible assets	193.0	176.9
Net Carrying Amount, total intangible assets	69.7	74.7
Amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization	21.7	20.7	$ 20.2
Restructuring initiative within 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	0.6
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets not subject to amortization	0.6	0.6
Existing technology and related patents
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	169.0	154.5
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(113.9)	(95.5)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	55.1	59.0
Customer relationships
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	20.0	18.4
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(7.9)	(5.9)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	12.1	12.5
Non compete contracts
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	1.8	1.8
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(1.1)	(0.6)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	0.7	1.2
Trade names
Intangible assets:
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	1.6	1.6
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(0.4)	(0.2)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 1.2	$ 1.4