Equity - Schedule of Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Apr. 08, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 47,151	$ 56,632	$ 51,522	$ 57,080
Net income	483	551	1,091	1,104
Other comprehensive income (loss)	785	(163)	(1,895)	(9)
Additions (reductions)	13	(3,074)	15	(3,066)
Dividends and other capital changes	(44)	(76)	(48)	(80)
Dividends to Linde plc ordinary share holders	(506)	(474)	(1,017)	(951)
For employee savings and incentive plans	10	(13)	(8)	(7)
Purchases of common stock	0	(526)	(1,811)	(1,230)
Share-based compensation	32	22	75	38
Balance, end of period	$ 47,924	$ 52,879	$ 47,924	$ 52,879
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.963	$ 0.875	$ 1.926	$ 1.75
Linde plc Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	$ 44,776	$ 51,175	$ 49,074	$ 51,596
Net income	458	522	1,031	1,039
Other comprehensive income (loss)	767	(142)	(1,807)	79
Additions (reductions)	0	0	0	0
Dividends and other capital changes	0	0	0	0
Dividends to Linde plc ordinary share holders	(506)	(474)	(1,017)	(951)
For employee savings and incentive plans	10	(13)	(8)	(7)
Purchases of common stock	0	(526)	(1,811)	(1,230)
Share-based compensation	32	22	75	38
Balance, end of period	45,537	50,564	45,537	50,564
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	2,375	5,457	2,448	5,484
Net income	25	29	60	65
Other comprehensive income (loss)	18	(21)	(88)	(88)
Additions (reductions)	13	(3,074)	15	(3,066)
Dividends and other capital changes	(44)	(76)	(48)	(80)
Dividends to Linde plc ordinary share holders	0	0	0	0
For employee savings and incentive plans	0	0	0	0
Purchases of common stock	0	0	0	0
Share-based compensation	0	0	0	0
Balance, end of period	$ 2,387	$ 2,315	$ 2,387	2,315
Linde AG
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners				$ 3,200
Linde AG
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Non-controlling participation exchanged (as a percent)					8.00%