Other Charges, Net - Restructuring Initiatives (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) employee	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses			$ 8.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups
Restructuring charges
Expected reduction in number of employees | employee			125
Restructuring expenses	$ 2.1	$ 6.1	$ 5.9	$ 6.1
Restructuring and other one-time charges incurred to date	16.3		16.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.3	3.5	3.5	3.5
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.8	2.6	2.4	2.6
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.9	5.4	5.4	5.4
Restructuring and other one-time charges incurred to date	13.2		13.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	1.1	3.0	3.0	3.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.8	2.4	2.4	2.4
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.2	0.7	0.5	0.7
Restructuring and other one-time charges incurred to date	3.1		3.1
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.2	0.5	0.5	0.5
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Inventory Writedown and Asset Impairment | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses		0.2		0.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	17.0		17.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Minimum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	16.0		16.0
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	19.0		19.0
Restructuring initiative within Bruker CALID and Bruker Nano Groups | Maximum | Severance and Exit Costs
Restructuring charges
Expected restructuring and related one-time charges	17.5		17.5
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	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			(2.7)	3.3
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses			(2.7)	2.2
Restructuring initiative within Bruker BioSpin Group | Severance and Exit Costs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses				1.1
Other programs
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	2.5	1.2	5.3	3.4
Other programs | Cost of revenues
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	0.3	1.0	0.8	0.7
Other programs | Other charges, net
Restructuring charges
Restructuring expenses	$ 2.2	$ 0.2	$ 4.5	$ 2.7