Other Charges, Net - Restructuring Initiatives (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) employee	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses			$ 3.9
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups
Restructuring charges
Expected reduction in number of employees | employee			125
Restructuring expenses	$ 1.5	$ 0.0	$ 3.8	$ 0.0
Restructuring and other one-time charges incurred			14.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.7		2.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.8		1.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.5		3.5
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.7		1.9
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.8		1.6
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	16.0		16.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	15.0		15.0
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		1.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	18.0		18.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	16.5		16.5
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		$ 1.5
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group
Restructuring charges
Reduction in employee headcount (as a percent)	9.00%		9.00%
Restructuring expenses	$ 0.0		$ (2.7)	3.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses			(2.7)	2.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses				1.1
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		1.0	(2.7)	3.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		0.9	(2.7)	2.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		0.1		1.1
Various other programs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.3	2.7	2.8	4.2
Various other programs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.7	0.9	0.5	1.7
Various other programs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 1.6	$ 1.8	$ 2.3	$ 2.5