Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Stock options	Mar. 31, 2012 Stock options	Mar. 31, 2013 Stock options Minimum	Mar. 31, 2013 Stock options Maximum	Mar. 31, 2013 Restricted common stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Restricted common stock	May 31, 2010 Bruker Corporation Stock Plan	Mar. 31, 2013 Bruker Corporation Stock Plan Minimum	Mar. 31, 2013 Bruker Corporation Stock Plan Maximum	Mar. 31, 2013 Bruker Corporation Stock Plan Stock options	Mar. 31, 2013 Bruker Corporation Stock Plan Restricted common stock	Oct. 31, 2009 Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies Stock Plan	Mar. 31, 2013 Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies Stock Plan Minimum	Mar. 31, 2013 Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies Stock Plan Maximum	Mar. 31, 2013 Bruker Energy and Supercon Technologies Stock Plan Stock options
Stock-Based Compensation
Total stock-based compensation	$ 1.8	$ 1.9	$ 1.6	$ 1.7			$ 0.2	$ 0.2
Vesting period					3 years	5 years				3 years	5 years				3 years	5 years
Risk-free interest rate, minimum (as a percent)			1.22%	1.24%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum (as a percent)			1.43%	1.78%
Expected life			6 years 6 months	6 years 6 months
Volatility (as a percent)			54.90%	55.90%
Expected dividend yield (as a percent)			0.00%	0.00%
Common stock authorized for issuance (in shares)									8,000,000					1,600,000
Stock option, Number of shares
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)												4,888,137
Granted (in shares)												225,000
Exercised (in shares)												(436,136)
Forfeited (in shares)												(45,345)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)												4,631,656					800,000
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)												2,689,625
Exercisable and expected to vest at the end of the period (in shares)												4,495,714
Stock options, Weighted Average exercise price
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)												$ 11.11
Granted (in dollars per share)												$ 16.68
Exercised (in dollars per share)												$ 9.39
Forfeited (in dollars per share)												$ 11.96
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)												$ 11.54
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars per share)												$ 9.99
Exercisable and expected to vest at the end of the period (in dollars per share)												$ 11.47
Stock options, Weighted average remaining contractual life
Outstanding at the end of the period												6 years 3 months 18 days
Exercisable at the end of the period												4 years 10 months 24 days
Exercisable and expected to vest at the end of the period												6 years 2 months 12 days
Stock options, Aggregate intrinsic value
Exercised (in dollars)												3.9
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars)												35.1
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars)												24.5
Exercisable and expected to vest at the end of the period (in dollars)												34.4
Fair value of the Company's common stock price (in dollars per share)												$ 19.10
Restricted stock, Number of shares
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)													341,622
Granted (in shares)													5,500
Vested (in shares)													(11,100)
Forfeited (in shares)													(11,100)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)													324,922
Restricted stock, Weighted-average grant date fair value
Non-vested at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)													$ 15.16
Granted (in dollars per shares)													$ 16.57
Vested (in dollars per share)													$ 10.25
Forfeited (in dollars per share)													$ 10.25
Non-vested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)													$ 15.52
Expected pre-tax stock-based compensation expense												$ 11.7	$ 3.8				$ 0.6
Weighted average remaining service period												2 years	3 years 6 months				1 year 4 months 24 days