Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 236.0	$ 192.4
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(154.2)	(123.3)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	81.8	69.1
Gross Carrying Amount, total intangible assets	236.6	193.0
Net Carrying Amount, total intangible assets	82.4	69.7
Amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization	29.6	21.7	$ 20.7
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	195.4	169.0
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(138.9)	(113.9)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	56.5	55.1
Customer relationships
Intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	34.6	20.0
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(12.9)	(7.9)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	21.7	12.1
Non compete contracts
Intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	1.8	1.8
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(1.5)	(1.1)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	0.3	0.7
Trade names
Intangible assets
Gross Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	4.2	1.6
Accumulated Amortization, intangible assets subject to amortization	(0.9)	(0.4)
Net Carrying Amount, intangible assets subject to amortization	$ 3.3	$ 1.2