Restructuring and Other Costs, Net (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010	Aug. 05, 2011
Restructuring and Other Costs, Net Details [Abstract]
Identified Future Restructuring Costs					$ 40
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Cost of Revenues	15.4	3.7	18.3	8.8
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	38.0	(0.2)	41.1	0.9
Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	39.9	8.2	55.2	25.6
Total Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	93.3		114.6
Restructuring and Related Costs, Non-Cash Costs (Income), Net			3.0
Analytical Technologies [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Cost of Revenues	15.2		16.0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	38.0		41.1
Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	28.7		40.3
Total Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	81.9		97.4
Analytical Technologies [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	6.0		13.2
Restructuring Severance Headcount	40		120
Analytical Technologies [Member] | Abandonment of Excess Facilities [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	0.7		4.7
Analytical Technologies [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	0.4		1.0
Analytical Technologies [Member] | Dionex Monetized Equity Awards [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	21.6		21.6
Laboratory Products and Services [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Cost of Revenues	0.2		2.3
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	0		0
Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	10.8		14.3
Total Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	11.0		16.6
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	7.8		11.3
Restructuring and Related Costs, Non-Cash Costs (Income), Net	3.0		3.0
Laboratory Products and Services [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	6.5		9.2
Restructuring Severance Headcount	200		310
Laboratory Products and Services [Member] | Abandonment of Excess Facilities [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	1.1		1.5
Laboratory Products and Services [Member] | Other Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs	0.2		0.6
Corporate [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	0.4		0.6
Total Restructuring and Other Costs, Net	0.4		0.6
Corporate [Member] | Severance [Member]
Restructuring And Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Costs, Cash Costs			$ 0.6