Segments (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of geographic segments | segment	3
Total sales	$ 6,944	$ 2,983
Segment operating profit	609	653
Transaction costs and other charges	(89)	(19)
Americas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	2,706	1,850
EMEA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	1,682	415
APAC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	1,452	435
Engineering
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	636	0
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	468	283
Total Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	6,944	2,983
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG	(531)	0
Operating Segments | Americas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	2,706	1,850
Segment operating profit	585	483
Operating Segments | EMEA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	1,682	415
Segment operating profit	347	87
Operating Segments | APAC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	1,452	435
Segment operating profit	278	106
Operating Segments | Engineering
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	636	0
Segment operating profit	78	0
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total sales	468	283
Segment operating profit	(59)	(4)
Operating Segments | Total Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment operating profit	1,229	672
Transaction costs and other charges	$ (89)	$ (19)