Other Charges, Net - Restructuring Plans (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) employee	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 16.2	$ 20.8	$ 29.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups
Restructuring charges
Expected reduction in number of employees | employee	125
Restructuring expenses	$ 7.0	10.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	4.0	6.8
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	3.0	3.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	6.5	7.8
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	3.5	4.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	3.0	3.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.5	2.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 0.5	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 BioSpin Group
Restructuring charges
Reduction in employee headcount (as a percent)	9.00%
Restructuring expenses	$ (2.7)	3.3	16.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	(2.7)	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	(2.7)	3.3	12.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	(2.7)	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
Other programs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	11.9	7.1	13.1
Other programs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	4.3	2.0	8.9
Other programs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 7.6	$ 5.1	$ 4.2