Equity and Noncontrolling Interests - Schedule of Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Activity	$ 57,080	$ 6,511
Net income	553	471
Other comprehensive income (loss)	154	129
Additions (reductions)	8	6
Dividends and other capital changes	4	3
Redemption value adjustments	0	(2)
Dividends to Linde plc ordinary share holders ($0.875 per share in 2019 and $0.825 per share in 2018)	(477)	(237)
For the dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan	0	2
For employee savings and incentive plans	6	3
Purchases of common stock	(704)
Share-based compensation	16	4
Balance, end of period	$ 56,632	$ 6,884
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.875	$ 0.825
Non-controlling participation exchanged (as a percent)		8.00%
Net income related to redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 1	$ 1
Linde plc Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Activity	51,596	6,018
Net income	517	462
Other comprehensive income (loss)	221	118
Redemption value adjustments	0	(2)
Dividends to Linde plc ordinary share holders ($0.875 per share in 2019 and $0.825 per share in 2018)	(477)	(237)
For the dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan	0	2
For employee savings and incentive plans	6	3
Purchases of common stock	(704)
Share-based compensation	16	4
Balance, end of period	51,175	6,368
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Activity	5,484	493
Net income	36	9
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(67)	11
Additions (reductions)	8	6
Dividends and other capital changes	4	3
Balance, end of period	$ 5,457	516
Linde AG
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners		$ 3,200