Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operations
Net Income – Linde plc	$ 4,381	$ 1,247	$ 1,500
Less: income from discontinued operations, net of tax and noncontrolling interests	(108)	0	0
Add: Noncontrolling interests from continuing operations	15	61	38
Income from continuing operations (including noncontrolling interests)	4,288	1,308	1,538
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Transaction costs and other charges, net of payments	40	26	83
Amortization of merger-related inventory step-up	368	0	0
Tax Act income tax charge, net	(61)	394	0
Depreciation and amortization	1,830	1,184	1,122
Deferred income taxes, excluding Tax Act	(187)	136	(13)
Share-based compensation	62	59	39
Net gain on sale of businesses, net of tax	(2,923)	0	0
Non-cash charges and other	175	43	(43)
Working capital
Accounts receivable	(124)	(92)	(33)
Inventory	(4)	(22)	(13)
Prepaid and other current assets	43	(66)	6
Payables and accruals	287	22	92
Pension contributions	(87)	(19)	(11)
Long-term assets, liabilities and other	(53)	68	22
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,654	3,041	2,789
Investing
Capital expenditures	(1,883)	(1,311)	(1,465)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(25)	(33)	(363)
Divestitures and asset sales, net of cash divested	5,908	30	58
Cash acquired in merger transaction	1,363	0	0
Net cash used for investing activities	5,363	(1,314)	(1,770)
Financing
Short-term debt borrowings (repayments) – net	208	(199)	191
Long-term debt borrowings	8	11	936
Long-term debt repayments	(3,124)	(583)	(770)
Issuances of common stock	77	120	139
Purchases of common stock	(599)	(12)	(228)
Cash dividends – Praxair, Inc. shareholders	(1,166)	(901)	(856)
Noncontrolling interest transactions and other	(402)	(92)	(71)
Net cash used for financing activities	(4,998)	(1,656)	(659)
Discontinued Operations
Cash provided by operating activities	48	0	0
Cash used for investing activities	(23)	0	0
Cash provided by financing activities	2	0	0
Net cash provided by discontinued operations	27	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(60)	22	17
Change in cash and cash equivalents	3,986	93	377
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning-of-period	617	524	147
Cash and cash equivalents, including discontinued operations	4,603	617	524
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations	(137)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end-of-period	4,466	617	524
Supplemental Data
Income taxes paid	757	565	585
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest (Note 9)	$ 214	$ 184	$ 189