<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001466258</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Ingersoll-Rand plc</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229413</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAULD WILLIAM B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CENTENNIAL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PISCATAWAY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08854</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares (Restricted Share Units)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>754</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7710</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2009 - 2010 Performance Share Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21372</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2009 - 2011 Performance Share Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21372</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2010 - 2012 Performance Share Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11395</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5650</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares (EDCP II)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33576.75</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3117.43</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Plan Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Share Units vest in three (3) equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.  Upon vesting, each unit is convertible into one (1) ordinary share of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares forfeited pursuant to a net settlement procedure for Restricted Share Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Amount reflects the reduction of forfeited net settlement shares as well as the resulting net shares that have vested and are now held directly as ordinary shares by the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents target number of Performance Shares.  The actual number of shares to be issued, which could range from zero to two times the initial target amount, will depend upon the Issuer's financial performance during the relevant performance period relative to peer companies in the S&amp;P 500 Industrial Index. The shares, if any, will be issued in the first quarter of 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents target number of Performance Shares.  The actual number of shares to be issued, which could range from zero to two times the initial target amount, will depend upon the Issuer's financial performance during the relevant performance period relative to peer companies in the S&amp;P 500 Industrial Index. The shares, if any, will be issued in the first quarter of 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents target number of Performance Shares.  The actual number of shares to be issued, which could range from zero to two times the initial target amount, will depend upon the Issuer's financial performance during the relevant performance period relative to peer companies in the S&amp;P 500 Industrial Index. The shares, if any, will be issued in the first quarter of 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Includes the ordinary shares acquired pursuant to the net settlement procedure for the vested Restricted Share Units (described in this filing).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Represents vested units acquired or deferred under the IR Executive Deferred Compensation Plan II (the &quot;EDCP II&quot;). The units are to be converted on a one-for-one basis and settled in shares upon the reporting person's termination of employment with the issuer, or earlier or later upon certain elections.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Latest available information provided by the trustee of the Ingersoll-Rand Employee Savings Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kenneth Yi - Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
