Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME (INCLUDING NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS)	$ 483	$ 551	$ 1,091	$ 1,105
Translation adjustments:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	745	(170)	(1,995)	(47)
Reclassification to net income	0	0	0	12
Income taxes	(1)	8	24	5
Translation adjustments	744	(162)	(1,971)	(30)
Funded status - retirement obligations (Note 8):
Retirement program remeasurements	(7)	(32)	51	(34)
Reclassifications to net income	21	23	43	87
Income taxes	(9)	1	(24)	(17)
Funded status - retirement obligations	5	(8)	70	36
Derivative instruments (Note 5):
Current unrealized gain (loss)	20	(3)	(45)	(20)
Reclassifications to net income	26	0	50	0
Income taxes	(10)	1	1	4
Derivative instruments	36	(2)	6	(16)
Securities:
Current unrealized gain (loss)	0	9	0	1
Securities	0	9	0	1
TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	785	(163)	(1,895)	(9)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (INCLUDING NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS)	1,268	388	(804)	1,096
Less: noncontrolling interests	(43)	(8)	28	22
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - LINDE PLC	$ 1,225	$ 380	$ (776)	$ 1,118