Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 14,900	$ 11,437	$ 10,534
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization	9,084	6,461	5,855
Selling, general and administrative	1,629	1,207	1,145
Depreciation and amortization	1,830	1,184	1,122
Research and development	113	93	92
Transaction costs and other charges	309	52	96
Net gain on sale of businesses	3,294	0	0
Other income (expenses) – net	18	4	23
Operating Profit	5,247	2,444	2,247
Interest expense – net	202	161	190
Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost	(4)	(4)	9
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Investments	5,049	2,287	2,048
Income taxes on continuing operations	817	1,026	551
Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity Investments	4,232	1,261	1,497
Income from equity investments	56	47	41
Income From Continuing Operations (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	4,288	1,308	1,538
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	117	0	0
Net Income (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	4,405	1,308	1,538
Less: noncontrolling interests from continuing operations	(15)	(61)	(38)
Less: noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations	(9)	0	0
Net Income – Linde plc	4,381	1,247	1,500
Net Income – Linde plc
Income from continuing operations	4,273	1,247	1,500
Income from discontinued operations	$ 108	$ 0	$ 0
Per Share Data – Linde plc Shareholders
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 12.93	$ 4.36	$ 5.25
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.33	0.00	0.00
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	13.26	4.36	5.25
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	12.79	4.32	5.21
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.32	0.00	0.00
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 13.11	$ 4.32	$ 5.21
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (000’s):
Basic shares outstanding (in shares)	330,401	286,261	285,677
Diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	334,127	289,114	287,757