Other Charges, Net - Restructuring Initiatives (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) employee	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 0.1
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups
Restructuring charges
Expected reduction in number of employees | employee	125
Restructuring expenses	$ 2.3
Restructuring and other one-time charges incurred	12.7
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.5
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.8
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.8
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	14.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	13.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	1.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	16.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	14.5
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	$ 1.5
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group
Restructuring charges
Reduction in employee headcount (as a percent)	9.00%
Restructuring expenses	$ (2.7)	$ 2.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	(2.7)	1.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		1.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	(2.7)	2.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	(2.7)	1.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		1.0
Various other programs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.5	1.5
Various other programs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	(0.2)	0.7
Various other programs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 0.7	$ 0.8