Consolidated Income Statements - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 5,249	$ 5,207	$ 4,707
Cost of revenue	3,203	3,181	2,860
Gross profit	2,046	2,026	1,847
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,158	1,161	1,089
Research and development expenses	191	189	181
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	63	22	25
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	148	0	0
Operating income	486	654	552
Interest expense	67	82	82
Other non-operating (expense) income, net	(4)	13	6
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses	1	0	(10)
Income before taxes	416	585	466
Income tax expense	15	36	136
Net income	401	549	330
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0	(1)
Net income attributable to Xylem	$ 401	$ 549	$ 331
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.23	$ 3.05	$ 1.84
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.21	$ 3.03	$ 1.83
Basic (in shares)	179,987	179,777	179,629
Weighted average common shares outstanding — Diluted	181,196	181,132	180,857
Dividends declared per share (in usd per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.84	$ 0.72